IMPACT OF ACINETOBACTER SPP. IN INTENSIVE-CARE UNITS IN GREAT-BRITAINAND IRELAND

Acinetobacter spp. are of increasing importance as hospital pathogens in intensive care units (ICUs) but it is unclear what clinical impact these bacteria have in Great Britain and Ireland. A survey was carried out by questionnaire on the impact of Acinetobacter in ICUs and the l aboratory methods used to identify and type isolates. There were 70 re spondents, of whom 25 reported that Acinetobacter had not been recover ed from ICU patients within the previous 12 months. The remaining 45 r espondents reported that the respiratory tract was the most common sit e from which these bacteria were isolated, but they were currently end emic in one ICU only. There were considerable differences in methods u sed to identify Gram-negative bacilli recovered from ICU patients, whi ch may partly explain differences in the reported prevalence of isolat es between centres, and 12 laboratories attempted to type isolates by a range of techniques. The availability and use of agreed antibiotic p olicies specific for ICUs may be particularly important in prevention and control where infection with Acinetobacter is prevalent.