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November 22, 2004

Eradication of multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter from an intensive care unit.

Topics: Clinical Pharmacology

Review of Abstract
Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2001 Winter;2(4):297-301. Department of Surgery, Medical Center, University of California-Irvine, 101 The City Drive, Orange, CA 92868, USA. Podnos YD, Cinat ME, Wilson SE, Cooke J, Gornick W, Thrupp LD

Acinetobacter baumannii is a gram-negative coccobacillus that causes outbreaks of nosocomial infections in ICUs. Due to resistance to multiple antibiotics, management of clusters of A. baumannii is useful as a model in eradication of multi-drug resistant infections. This article outlines the evolution of an A. baumannii outbreak, focusing on methods of transmission and multidisciplinary measures aimed at eliminating it from the ICU.

The method employed was a study of patients in an urban, tertiary care medical center from November 1996 to December 1997 having positive cultures for multi-drug resistant A. baumannii. A. baumannii was isolated on blood agar and MacConkey cultures and identified by Vitek panel. Disk diffusion including amikacin, imipenem, polymyxin B, and sulbactam were used to determine resistance.

Study Results: An outbreak of 52 patients (27 infected, 25 colonized) with 68 positive sites began with the transfer of a colonized >50% total body surface area burn patient from an outside hospital. Within 3 days, the index patient was in the burn ICU, coronary care unit, and medical ICU. Soon, clusters of patients with A. baumannii infections sensitive only to polymyxin B were seen in those units and, ultimately, the surgical ICU. On typing, 2 strains were found, PFGE B and C. Given the level of antibiotic resistance, patients with colonization or infection were cohorted and placed on contact isolation. Strict antiseptic measures, such as hand-washing, barrier isolation, equipment and room cleaning, sterilization of ventilator equipment, and dedication of medical equipment to each patient were instituted. Still, positive environmental cultures were found in ventilator water traps, sinks, and bedrails. Sporadic cases continued for a total of 13 months, with 10 deaths resulting from the infections. CONCLUSION: A. baumannii is a mildly virulent organism that becomes resistant to antimicrobials. Because of multiple antibiotic resistance, strict contact isolation cohorting and antiseptic technique are the primary modes of containment. This outbreak serves as a model of eradication of multi-drug resistant organisms from ICUs.
PMID: 12593705

Posted by Hyscience at November 22, 2004 8:01 PM

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