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A multi-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii outbreak in a general intensive care unit
Stamatina Levidiotou1, Emmanouil Galanakis, Georgia Vrioni
1Microbiology Department, Medical School, University of Ioannina, POB 1186, 45, 110, Ioannina, Greece. sleveidi@cc.uoi.gr
In Vivo (Athens, Greece)
|June 21, 2002
Summary
A hospital outbreak of multiresistant Acinetobacter baumannii was rapidly controlled. Random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis identified a trunking as the likely source, enabling swift intervention.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Hospital Epidemiology
Background:
- Multiresistant Acinetobacter baumannii poses a significant threat in Intensive Care Units (ICUs).
- Rapid identification of outbreak sources is crucial for effective infection control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and identify the source of a multiresistant Acinetobacter baumannii outbreak in an ICU.
- To evaluate the utility of Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis in outbreak investigations.
Main Methods:
- Conducted patient and environmental surveillance studies.
- Utilized Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) for genotyping bacterial isolates.
- Performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
Main Results:
- Identified five cases (three infected, two colonized) of multiresistant Acinetobacter baumannii within one week.
- RAPD analysis revealed identical genetic patterns among patient isolates and one environmental isolate from a trunking.
- The trunking isolate exhibited the same susceptibility pattern as patient isolates, suggesting it as the outbreak source.
Conclusions:
- Acinetobacter baumannii outbreaks can be effectively managed with prompt hospital infection control measures.
- RAPD-fingerprinting is a valuable and rapid tool for epidemiological investigations of hospital-acquired infections.