ACINETOBACTER SEPTICEMIA - A THREAT TO NEONATES - SPECIAL ASPECTS IN A NEONATAL INTENSIVE-CARE UNIT

Acinetobacter is one of the organisms responsible for nosocomial infec tions in intensive care, neurosurgery, burn and hemodialysis units. Th ere are only a few reports on Acinetobacter infections in neonatal int ensive care units. Over a 31 month period, nine cases of Acinetobacter sepsis occurred in our unit, with four deaths. There was a cluster of four cases within 3 days. In this study the English literature on thi s pathogen is reviewed and it is suggested that Acinetobacter should b e added to the list of organisms causing severe nosocomial infection i n neonatal intensive care units.