Acinetobacter-- serious danger for burn patients

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Critical Care Medicine
• Burn Surgery

Background:

• Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) is a multi-drug-resistant pathogen increasingly isolated from burn patients.
• Sporadic isolation of Ab in Intensive Care Units (ICU) since 1992 showed a rapid increase in resistant strains by 1999.
• Colonization rates of Ab in hospitalized and ICU patients rose significantly between 2003 and 2004.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the epidemiology of an Acinetobacter baumannii outbreak in burn patients.
• To identify risk factors associated with colonization and infection by multi-drug-resistant Ab strains.
• To establish intensive surveillance for Ab isolates following an observed increase in resistance.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of burn patients admitted to a specialized clinic between 2003 and 2006.
• Analysis of bacterial isolate trends, antimicrobial resistance patterns, and patient infection types.
• Epidemiological investigation and risk factor assessment for Ab colonization and infection.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in Acinetobacter (Acb) strains, identified as multi-drug-resistant, was confirmed.
• Antimicrobial resistance to Ampicilin/Sulbactam, Gentamycin, and Meropenem rose sharply after 2003.
• In 2006, multi-drug-resistant Ab was recorded in 11% of patients, with 2 deaths due to sepsis.

Conclusions:

• Acinetobacter baumannii poses a significant threat to burn patients due to increasing multi-drug resistance.
• The study highlights the need for robust surveillance and infection control measures for Ab in healthcare settings.
• Understanding the epidemiology and risk factors is crucial for managing Ab outbreaks in vulnerable patient populations.