Clinical Reflections of Acinetobacter Infections in Children in a Quaternary-Care Hospital: A Five-Year Single-Center Experience

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the epidemiology of Acinetobacter species in the last 5 years, the clinical diseases caused by the pathogen, the possible risk factors for infection, and the resistance pattern of the microorganism in our quaternary-care hospital. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 67 pediatric cases infected with Acinetobacter species in our hospital between January 2017 and December 2021 were analyzed. Demographic characteristics and clinical and laboratory findings were analyzed. Results: In pediatric patients infected with Acinetobacter spp., the median age was 36 (7-114) months, and 64.2% (n = 43) were female. Acinetobacter baumannii was grown in the cultures of 31 (46.3%) cases. When the type of infection was examined, 31 (46.3%) cases were urinary tract infections, and 29 (43.3%) cases were bloodstream infections. Extensively drug-resistant, pandrug-resistant, and multidrug-resistant A. baumannii were found in 10 (14.9%), 3 (4.5%), and 2 (3%) cases, respectively. Health-care-associated infections were found to have a significant rate of Acinetobacter resistance ( P = .002). Significant antimicrobial resistance was detected in Acinetobacter -infected cases with intensive care hospitalization within the last month and carbapenem use in the previous 3 months ( P < .001, both). Conclusion: It is necessary to act in accordance with the infection prevention and control program to reduce the incidence of health-care-associated infections with Acinetobacter species and to prevent infection with highly resistant strains. Due to health-care-associated infections and factors contributing to the increase in Acinetobacter resistance, we believe this study will help clinicians to be more cautious in the use of carbapenems.