Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii outbreak in an intensive care unit
G B Orsi1, C Franchi, A Giordano
1Department of Public Health Sciences, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. giovanni.orsi@uniroma1.it
Journal of Chemotherapy (Florence, Italy)
|May 10, 2008
Summary
During a carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii outbreak, isolating patients and dedicated staff geographically proved essential. This strategy helped control the spread of the multidrug-resistant bacteria in a hospital setting.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Hospital Epidemiology
Background:
- Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) poses a significant threat in healthcare settings.
- CRAB outbreaks are challenging to control due to limited treatment options and high transmissibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effectiveness of enhanced infection control measures during a CRAB outbreak.
- To evaluate the impact of geographical isolation of patients and staff on CRAB transmission.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of CRAB strains from colonized/infected patients in an ICU.
- Molecular typing (RAPD) to assess strain relatedness.
- Implementation of enhanced infection control and geographical isolation strategies.
Main Results:
- All CRAB isolates exhibited resistance to multiple antibiotics, with susceptibility only to gentamicin, ampicillin-sulbactam, and colistin.
- Most strains (12/15) were susceptible to tigecycline; three showed intermediate susceptibility.
- Despite reinforced measures, CRAB transmission persisted until patients and dedicated staff were geographically isolated.
Conclusions:
- Geographical isolation of both patients and dedicated healthcare personnel is crucial for controlling CRAB outbreaks.
- Multidrug-resistant A. baumannii outbreaks necessitate comprehensive and sometimes unconventional containment strategies.
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