Misidentification of Burkholderia cepacia in US cystic fibrosis treatment centers: an analysis of 1,051 recent sputum isolates.

Background: Burkholderia cepacia remains a significant pathogen in persons with cystic fibrosis (CF). The medical and psychosocial consequences of pulmonary colonization with this bacterium are enormous. However, B cepacia may be frequently misidentified from CF sputum culture.