BEHAVIOR OF THE BURKHOLDERIA CEPACIA COMPLEX IN WATERS WITH DIFFERENT NUTRIENT CONCENTRATIONS

A group of about 20 bacteria species called the Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) are widespread in the environment, but they are also the cause of severe infections in humans. In the Republic of Croatia, relatively little research has been conducted on the presence of these bacteria in different habitats and the impact these bacteria have on humans. The paper examines the long-term behaviour of five clinically significant BCC bacteria species in waters with different nutrient concentrations. The clinical isolate and four isolates extracted from the environment impacted by human liquid or solid waste survived in the long term and even multiplied in nutrient-poor or nutrient-rich water. After a 50-day monitoring, the concentration of four out of the five tested isolates in water was higher than the initial concentration. Considering the potential for a long-term retention of clinically significant BCC bacteria species in aquatic ecosystems, the presence of the BCC in water should be considered as a source of sporadic human infections. In order to avoid this public health risk, the BCC should be removed from human solid and liquid waste before its disposal in the environment. For monitoring of the BCC epidemiology, it is necessary to pay attention to the isolation and characterization of the BCC both in the clinics and the environment.