An outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in a COVID-19 dedicated hospital

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Tamar Gottesman1,2, Rina Fedorowsky1, Rebecca Yerushalmi3

  • 1Infectious Diseases and Control Unit, Rabin Medical Center, Hasharon Hospital, Petach Tikva, Israel.

Infection Prevention in Practice
|July 28, 2021
PubMed

Insights

An outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) occurred in a COVID-19 hospital. Environmental contamination and healthcare worker transmission likely spread the multidrug-resistant organism despite cleaning.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Hospital Epidemiology

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has strained healthcare resources, potentially impacting infection control practices.
  • Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is a significant multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) posing a threat in healthcare settings.
  • Environmental contamination is a known reservoir for Acinetobacter baumannii transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe an outbreak of CRAB in a hospital dedicated to COVID-19 patients.
  • To investigate the suspected transmission routes of CRAB during the pandemic.
  • To highlight the importance of maintaining MDRO prevention strategies amidst the COVID-19 crisis.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective case series analysis.
  • Review of infection control protocols and environmental cleaning procedures.
  • Epidemiological investigation of patient and healthcare worker interactions.

Main Results:

  • An outbreak of CRAB was identified in a COVID-19 dedicated hospital.
  • The suspected transmission involved a persistent environmental source.
  • Transmission was likely facilitated by healthcare worker contact with contaminated surfaces or equipment.

Conclusions:

  • Environmental contamination played a crucial role in sustaining the CRAB outbreak.
  • Standard infection control practices for MDROs remain critical, even during a pandemic.
  • Reinforced vigilance in hand hygiene and equipment disinfection is essential to prevent CRAB spread.
Keywords:
COVID-19 pandemicCarbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB)Environmental samplingInfection controlOutbreak investigationScreening

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