Background: Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MRAB) is a serious nosocomial
pathogen characterized by its survival on inanimate surfaces for long periods, making
control of outbreaks difficult.
Aim: To analyse two hospital outbreaks caused by MRAB, determine their epidemiology,
carbapenem-resistance mechanisms and assess the effectiveness of surface disinfection
by vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP).
Methods: MRAB strains were isolated from patients in two intensive care units (ICUs).
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by E-test. Polymerase chain reaction
(PCR) was used to detect the presence of the most common A. baumannii carbapenemases.
Epidemiological typing was performed by rep-PCR (DiversiLab) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.
VHP was used to decontaminate the affected ICUs.
Findings: MRAB was isolated from 28 patients between January 2009 and September 2010.
All isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin and gentamicin. Twenty-one were also resistant
to carbapenems. Carbapenem resistance was associated primarily with the acquired OXA-
23-like enzyme. Genotyping revealed three clones; the predominant clone corresponded
to the international clone (IC) 2. Typing of the isolates pointed to a multifocal outbreak
without a single source of infection, with horizontal spread of the dominating clone among
ICU patients. A combination of rigorous infection control measures including strict isolation,
education of staff, hand hygiene and surface decontamination using VHP halted the
outbreak.
Conclusion: The results of this study confirm the importance of rigorous infection
prevention and control measures, combined with VHP decontamination in controlling an
outbreak of MRAB.
Background: Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MRAB) is a serious nosocomial
pathogen characterized by its survival on inanimate surfaces for long periods, making
control of outbreaks difficult.
Aim: To analyse two hospital outbreaks caused by MRAB, determine their epidemiology,
carbapenem-resistance mechanisms and assess the effectiveness of surface disinfection
by vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP).
Methods: MRAB strains were isolated from patients in two intensive care units (ICUs).
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by E-test. Polymerase chain reaction
(PCR) was used to detect the presence of the most common A. baumannii carbapenemases.
Epidemiological typing was performed by rep-PCR (DiversiLab) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.
VHP was used to decontaminate the affected ICUs.
Findings: MRAB was isolated from 28 patients between January 2009 and September 2010.
All isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin and gentamicin. Twenty-one were also resistant
to carbapenems. Carbapenem resistance was associated primarily with the acquired OXA-
23-like enzyme. Genotyping revealed three clones; the predominant clone corresponded
to the international clone (IC) 2. Typing of the isolates pointed to a multifocal outbreak
without a single source of infection, with horizontal spread of the dominating clone among
ICU patients. A combination of rigorous infection control measures including strict isolation,
education of staff, hand hygiene and surface decontamination using VHP halted the
outbreak.
Conclusion: The results of this study confirm the importance of rigorous infection
prevention and control measures, combined with VHP decontamination in controlling an
outbreak of MRAB.
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