Acinetobacter infections: a retrospective study to determine inhospital mortality rate and clinical factors...

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Critical Care Medicine
• Microbiology

Background:

• Acinetobacter infections pose a significant threat in healthcare settings, particularly in resource-limited areas.
• Multi-drug resistance (MDR) in Acinetobacter complicates treatment and increases patient mortality.
• Tertiary hospitals often serve as epicenters for severe and resistant bacterial infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the mortality rate of Acinetobacter infections at a Nairobi tertiary hospital.
• To identify factors associated with mortality in patients with Acinetobacter infections.
• To understand the epidemiology of Acinetobacter infections, including resistance patterns and common infection types.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case series analysis of 80 clinically significant Acinetobacter infections over an eight-year period.
• Data collection included infection types, antimicrobial resistance, and patient outcomes.
• Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores were analyzed for association with mortality.

Main Results:

• The overall mortality rate was 45%.
• Ventilator-associated pneumonia (40%) and bloodstream infections (30%) were the most common infections.
• Eighty-six percent of Acinetobacter isolates were multi-drug resistant.
• Higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores were significantly associated with mortality.

Conclusions:

• Acinetobacter infections in this Nairobi cohort have a high mortality rate, exacerbated by multi-drug resistance.
• Factors such as infection type, MDR status, and severity of illness (indicated by SOFA score) are critical determinants of patient outcomes.
• The presence of Acinetobacter in patients with no prior healthcare contact highlights the need for enhanced infection control measures.