Bacterium
Burkholderia cepacia complex
Non-fermenter, cystic fibrosis lung pathogen
burk-hol-DER-ee-uh seh-PAY-shee-uh
High-yield clue
Non-fermenting Gram-negative rod that is an ominous lung pathogen in cystic fibrosis and is intrinsically multidrug resistant.
Overview
A group of environmental non-fermenting Gram-negative rods studied as opportunistic pathogens that are especially significant in people with cystic fibrosis and chronic granulomatous disease.
Classification
- Gram-negative
- Rod
- Burkholderiaceae
- Aerobe
- Non-fermenter
Lab & identification clues
- Oxidase positive (often weak) vocabulary
- Non-lactose-fermenting on MacConkey
- Intrinsic multidrug-resistance vocabulary
- Environmental water/soil origin concept
Associations
- Cystic fibrosis lung infection vocabulary
- Chronic granulomatous disease association
- Contaminated antiseptic/solution outbreak framing
Commonly confused with
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
Frequently asked questions
What is Burkholderia cepacia complex?
A group of environmental non-fermenting Gram-negative rods studied as opportunistic pathogens that are especially significant in people with cystic fibrosis and chronic granulomatous disease.
What is the Gram stain of Burkholderia cepacia complex?
Burkholderia cepacia complex is Gram negative.
What are the lab clues for Burkholderia cepacia complex?
Lab clues for Burkholderia cepacia complex include Oxidase positive (often weak) vocabulary, Non-lactose-fermenting on MacConkey, Intrinsic multidrug-resistance vocabulary, and Environmental water/soil origin concept.
What is Burkholderia cepacia complex commonly confused with?
Burkholderia cepacia complex is commonly confused with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.
Original student-study summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment, dosing, or specimen-handling guidance.