Abstract
To identify risk factors for and prognostic indicators of the nosocomial acquisition of multiresistant Acinetobacter baumannii in an intensive care unit, we prospectively studied 40 patients: 13 who were infected with this organism and 27 who were colonized. Isolates were identified by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis; the infected/colonized patients were compared with 348 noninfected, noncolonized patients by logistic regression analysis and with matched historical controls in a cohort study. The severity of illness (evaluated by the APACHE II score; P < .05) and previous infection (P < .001) were retained as independent risk factors for acquiring A. baumannii. Logistic regression analysis selected a high APACHE II score (P < .01) and the acquisition of A. baumannii (P < .01) as factors independently associated with death. The acquisition of A. baumannii was associated not only with high mortality but also with a length of stay on the intensive care unit in excess of that due to the underlying disease alone; specifically, the attributable mortality was 25%, with a risk ratio for death of 2.0 (95% confidence interval, 1.11-3.62), and the duration of stay for infected/colonized patients was 10.3 days longer than that for controls (P < .001).
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
