Burkholderia cepacia (formerly known as Pseudomonas cepacia) is a motile aerobic oxidase positive Gram-negative bacillus commonly found in liquid reservoirs and moist environments. The cells are 0.5 to 1.0mm wide and 5mm in length. It is an important opportunistic pathogen and causes pulmonary infection among individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). Isolates from CF patients often display multidrug resistance and as many as 20% of colonised individuals will succumb to Burkholderia cepacia syndrome, a necrotizing pneumonia associated with fever that culminates into a rapid and fatal clinical deterioration1.

Burkholderia Cepacia Agar Base is based on PC Medium originally devised by Gilligan et al. where it was shown to be superior for growth of Burkholderia cepacia after 48 hours when compared to MacConkey2. Typical Burkholderia cepacia colonies are circular and sage green, the medium turning from straw-green to bright pink during incubation. All colonies should be further identified and confirmed.

Originally isolated from onions, Burkholderia cepacia can survive for long periods and multiply in hostile environments, such as antiseptic and disinfectant solutions, distilled water, whirlpool baths, nebulizers and commercially packaged urinary catheter kits3. An outbreak in Arizona in 1998 due to contaminated alcohol-free mouthwash was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), who suggested an association with the deionization procedure of the water used to prepare the product4. The organism may be present in low numbers in many non-sterile products used in hospitals. It has been isolated from various water sources and can grow in distilled water with a nitrogen source due to its ability to fix carbon dioxide from air5. Suction catheters rinsed in acetic acid solution have reduced incidence of transmission of Burkholderia cepacia and other pseudomonads.