• J Y Choi, Y S Park, C O Kim, H J Yoon, S Y Shin, Y-A Kim, Y G Song, D Yong, K Lee, and J M Kim.
• Department of Internal Medicine and AIDS Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Korea.
• Intern Med J. 2005 Oct 1; 35 (10): 599-603.

BackgroundAcinetobacter baumannii is one of the most important nosocomial pathogens, and its multiple antibiotic resistance has emerged as an obstacle in the treatment of these infections worldwide.AimsTo identify risk factors of mortality for A. baumannii bacteraemia.MethodsA retrospective cohort study of 72 patients with significant A. baumannii bacteraemia was conducted to evaluate risk factors for mortality.ResultsThe median age of the 72 enrolled patients was 48 years, 96% of the cases were hospital-acquired, and the bacteraemia-related mortality rate was 29% (21 of 72 patients). Univariate analysis revealed that the risk factors for mortality included: an elevated acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE II) score, receipt of in vitro ineffective definitive antimicrobial therapy, in vitro A. baumannii resistance to cefoperazone/ sulbactam, neutropenia, and presentation with septic shock. Multivariate analysis reveals that the independent risk factors for mortality are neutropenia and elevated APACHE II scores.ConclusionRisk factors such as neutropenia and elevated APACHE II scores are found to be associated with higher mortality rates of A. baumannii bacteraemia. Further study is necessary for the determination of optimal strategies for both the prevention and treatment of these infections.

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