Characterization of Burkholderia cepacia complex from environment influenced by human waste

The natural environment is a primary source of infections caused by members of Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC), but the release of human waste may in return enrich the natural environment with clinically relevant BCC. Seven BCC isolates from environment influenced by human liquid or solid waste across Croatia, and one clinical isolate was characterised. B. multivorans recovered from the soil at illegal dumpsite belonged to sequence type (ST)19; B. ambifaria from the agricultural soil fertilized with swine or poultry manure to ST927 or new ST; B. cenocepacia from creek sediment, river water and wound swab to new STs. Antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates ranged from sensitive to multidrug-resistant. A variety of bla(TEM) genes was confirmed in isolates. Isolates expressed the virulence factors and survived in river water during 50 days. The BCC present natural environments influenced by the human waste are of clinical relevance and a potential source of sporadic infections.