Burkholderia cepacia complex nasal isolation in immunocompetent patients with sinonasal polyposis not associated with cystic fibrosis

The Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) is a group of phenotypically similar, genetically distinct, motile, freeliving, glucose-non-fermentative, gram-negative bacilli that can be found in soil or water, and it has emerged as an important lung pathogen for patients with cystic fibrosis [1]. Many strains of Bcc are transmissible. Although it is capable of occasionally contaminating hospital environments [1], Bcc rarely causes community-acquired infections in immunocompetent patients. The prospective study described here investigated the nasal microbiology of 48 patients with sinonasal polyposis and 24 patients with chronic sinusitis who consecutively underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).