This paper is only available as a PDF. To read, Please Download here.
Background
Actinetobacter baumannii are Gram-negative bacteria that can cause urinary, bloodstream,
lung, wound, and other infections. In August 2020, the Louisiana Department of Health
(LDH) was notified of three patients who were infected with carbapenem-resistant A.
baumannii and were hospitalized at an acute care hospital within four weeks. They
originated from the same ventilator skilled nursing facility (vSNF). LDH epidemiologists
initiated a response consistent with CDC's national containment strategy to combat
antibiotic resistant threats.
Methods
An in-person infection control assessment and response (ICAR) survey with rounding
was conducted within five days of notification of the cluster. Interim infection control
recommendations included implementing a policy for the removal of gel polish and acrylic
nails, auditing of environmental cleaning practices, and reinforcing infection control
competencies. Isolates were forwarded to the CDC Southeast Antibiotic Resistance Laboratory
(ARLN) for pulse field gel electrophoresis and enhanced sensitivity testing. The facility
agreed to colonization screening for the ventilator unit where all of the cases were
previously housed. Swabs shipment was coordinated, and candidate screening patients
were identified.
Results
Preliminary comparisons of antibiotic sensitivity results of cases showed similar
resistance patterns for nine antibiotics, of which one was a carbapenem (meropenem).
Two of the three index cases were confirmed for pan-resistant A. baumannii and positive
for the OXA-23 gene on the CDC assay from respiratory and bronchiolar lavage specimens.
Two rounds of colonization screenings were conducted greater than two weeks apart
among four testing candidates each. No additional cases of A. baumannii, or any other
multi drug-resistant pathogen, were identified.
Conclusions
Swift public health coordination is necessary for the containment of multi drug-resistant
threats when introduced into congregate healthcare settings. While colonization screening
results for this facility were encouraging, infection control recommendations and
policy interventions were needed to prevent the spread of additional pathogens among
vulnerable ventilated and non-ventilated patients.
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to American Journal of Infection ControlAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
Article info
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Published by Elsevier Inc.
