A common source outbreak of Acinetobacter pulmonary infections traced to Wright respirometers

Abstract

Summary Over a 30-day period, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var. antiratus was the responsible pathogen for hospital-acquired pneumonia in 10 patients, and resulted in the colonization of the upper respiratory tract in an additional 9 patients. Wright respirometers contaminated by this organism were shown to be the common source for the outbreak as indicated by the recovery of a single serotype (8J), the inability to recover Acinetobacter from any other environmental source, and the demonstration that moisturized Wright respirometers are capable of "aerosolizing" fluids containing Acinetobacter.

The Ecology, Biology and Pathogenesis of Acinetobacter spp.: An Overview

“…However, different species of the genus are generally associated with different habitats. Acinetobacter genomospecies 3 is found in water and soil, on vegetables, and on human skin; A. johnsonii and A. haemolyticus are found in water, wastewater, soil, on human skin, and in human feces; A. lwoffii and A. radioresistens are found on human skin; and Acinetobacter genomic species 11 is found in water, in soil, and on vegetables as well as the human intestinal tract (10,26).…”

“…aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia and A. baumannii (33). In a hospital environment, they have been isolated from reusable medical equipments such as ventilator tubings, arterial pressure monitoring devices, humidifiers, washbasins, plastic urinals and respirometers (26,52,112,118). The organisms have also been isolated from the skin of healthcare personnel, mattresses, pillows and in all types of ventilator equipment and moist situations such as sinks and tap water (8,56).…”

The Role of Acinetobacter baumannii as a Nosocomial Pathogen for Dogs and Cats in an Intensive Care Unit

“…1 Acinetobacter baumannii is ubiquitous in nature and can be isolated from drinking water, food, and soil. [2][3][4] It is well known as an opportunistic pathogen responsible for nosocomial infections with considerable morbidity and mortality in hospitalized human patients. 5 These infections include pneumonia in ventilated patients, urinary tract infections in patients with indwelling urinary catheters, wound infections, bacteremia, and meningitis after neurosurgical procedures.…”

The Genus Acinetobacter

“…Hospital reservoirs of the organism may include waterbaths, disinfectants, room humidifiers, peri-tone~! dialysis fluid, wet mattresses, respuometers, and the hands of hospital staff (Buxton et al, 1978;Cunha et al, 1980;French et al, 1980;Sherertz and Sullivan, 1985;Smith and Massanari, 1977).…”