Clonally related Burkholderia contaminans among ventilated patients without cystic fibrosis

We investigated a cluster of 10 Burkholderia cepacia complex-positive cultures among ventilated patients and those with a tracheostomy in an acute care hospital. Isolates from 5 patients had outbreak-strain-related Burkholderia contaminans. Isolates of B. cepacia complex unrelated to the outbreak strain were cultured from a sink drain. The investigation identified practices that might have led to contamination of patient respiratory care supplies with tap water, which might have contributed to the cluster. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc.