Risk factors and impact of nosocomial Acinetobacter baumannii bloodstream infections in the adult intensive care unit: a case–control study

• Published in: The Journal of hospital infection Vol. 73; no. 2; pp. 143 - 150
• Main Authors: Jang, T.-N., Lee, S.-H., Huang, C.-H., Lee, C.-L., Chen, W.-Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2009
• Subjects: Acinetobacter baumannii; Acinetobacter baumannii - classification; Acinetobacter baumannii - drug effects; Acinetobacter baumannii - isolation & purification; Acinetobacter Infections - epidemiology; Acinetobacter Infections - microbiology; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Bacteremia - epidemiology; Bacteremia - microbiology; Bloodstream infection; Case-Control Studies; Cross Infection - epidemiology; Cross Infection - microbiology; Disease Outbreaks; Female; Humans; Incidence; Infectious Disease; Intensive care unit; Intensive Care Units; Male; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Taiwan - epidemiology; Taiwan; Acinetobacter baumannii; Bloodstream infection; Intensive care unit; Risk factors
• ISSN: 0195-6701; 1532-2939; 1532-2939
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2009.06.007

During a nine-year study period, 96 episodes of nosocomial bloodstream infection (BSI) due to Acinetobacter baumannii were identified in the adult intensive care units (ICUs) of Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital. Seventy-seven (80.2%) of these were available for matching in terms of age, sex, primary diagnosis of ICU admission, ICU ward, and disease severity. Univariate analysis showed that central venous catheter use, ventilator use, prior A. baumannii colonisation, and respiratory and cardiovascular organ failure were significantly associated with acquiring A. baumannii BSI in the ICU. By multivariate analysis, only prior A. baumannii colonisation [odds ratio (OR): 3.81; P < 0.001] and cardiovascular failure (OR: 2.24; P = 0.04) were identified as independent risk factors. The lower respiratory tract (32/77; 41.6%) was the most frequent source of infection, followed by intravascular catheters (13/77; 16.9%). Cumulative survival curves for patients with A. baumannii BSI and control patients showed no significant difference (30 day crude mortality: 29.9% and 27.3%, respectively; P = 0.916). However, the mean length of ICU and hospital stay and mean hospital cost of patients with A. baumannii BSI significantly increased, with an estimated 8.7 days excess length of ICU stay, 19.1 days excess hospital stay, and US $8480 extra hospital costs. Imipenem and meropenem remained the most active antimicrobial agents, both with 95.5% susceptibility (MIC 50 = 0.25 and 0.5, respectively). Improving hand hygiene of healthcare workers and aseptic care of vascular catheters and endotracheal tubes are important measures to prevent A. baumannii colonisation and decrease the incidence of BSI.