Case Report
SARS-CoV-2 and Burkholderia cenocepacia infection in a patient with Cystic Fibrosis: An unfavourable conjunction?

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcf.2021.03.024Get rights and content
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HIGHLIGHTS

  • Severe PEx may occur in a CF patient with COVID-19 and B Cenocepacia

    We suggest that SARS-CoV-2 might trigger a Bc PEx

  • Conversely, chronic Bc infection might worsen COVID-19

Abstract

The effects of the concomitant infection by COVID-19 and Burkholderia cepacia (Bc) in CF are not known. We describe the case of a 34 years woman with CF, colonized by Bc and found SARS-CoV2 positive. In the first hospital week she suffered acute respiratory failure and chest imaging showed interstitial involvement and multiple thickenings. She was treated with antibiotics, dexamethasone, remdesivir and heparin, with gradual improvement and discharge at day 20th. The reciprocal role of SARS-CoV-2 and Bc, their potential interactions and the contribution of the individual therapies to the favourable outcome are unclear. It is debatable whether it was SARS-CoV2 that triggered a Bc pulmonary exacerbation or if the chronic Bc infection facilitated the development of a COVID-19 more aggressive than usually seen in CF. If the latter hypothesis were confirmed by similar cases, Bc colonization should be regarded as a risk factor for severe COVID-19 expression in CF.

Keywords

Cystic Fibrosis
Burkholderia cepacia
SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19
Pulmonary exacerbation

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These authors contributed equally to the manuscript