The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an additional six infections caused by Burkholderia cepacia complex Thursday, bringing the outbreak total to 53 in five states,
At this time, CDC continues to recommend that clinicians not use any liquid docusate product as a stool softener or for any other medical purpose. This recommendation is now expanded to all patient populations. If an oral liquid docusate stool softener is medically necessary, alternative medicines should be used.
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Burkholderia cepacia is the name for a group or “complex” of bacteria that can be found in soil and water. Burkholderia cepacia bacteria are often resistant to common antibiotics. Burkholderia cepacia poses little medical risk to healthy people; however, it is a known cause of infections in hospitalized patients. People with certain health conditions, like weakened immune systems or chronic lung diseases (particularly cystic fibrosis), may be more susceptible to infections with Burkholderia cepacia.
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Unclear what the connection between the CDC recommending against use of any docusate product and B. cepacia infections. Could it be those products are the cause? If so, it would be clearer to make the connection for the reader.