Enfermedades infecciosas y microbiología clínica
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Enferm. Infecc. Microbiol. Clin. · May 2002
[Incidence of colonization and infection by Acinetobacter baumannii in an endemic seting (ICU). Analysis of risk factors by means of a surveillance study].
Our ICU has witnessed a gradual increase in infections due to Acinetobacter baumannii complex that has reached a level of stable endemia since 1995. This situation, aggravated by a high degree of resistance, has led to the present prospective study, designed to establish the incidence of Acinetobacter colonization and to investigate the role of risk factors and their relation to environmental colonization. ⋯ In an endemic setting, Acinetobacter colonization can occur in a third of ICU patients. This event is relatively early and often precedes infection. Duration of mechanical ventilation and previous use of antibiotics are the main risk factors. Environmental elements are frequent bacterial reservoirs, but the main reservoir is the colonized patient.