Background: Acinetobacter species infections are increasingly found to cause nosocomial infections, particularly in intensive care units. These pathogens are difficult to eliminate from the hospital environment, and the emergence of multiple-drug-resistant strains complicates patient treatment. In this retrospective study, several strains were analyzed to study the possible spread of pan-resistant strains.
Methods: Macrorestriction analysis was performed on isolates collected in July 2001 from Johannesburg Hospital and strains collected from a number of hospitals in Johannesburg a year later.
Results: A strain endemic to Johannesburg Hospital that was cefepime and ceftazidime sensitive in 2001 developed resistance to these antibiotics within 1 year. This and other resistant strains were found to have spread among academic and private hospitals in the area by July 2002.
Conclusions: The development of resistance is believed to be a response to antibiotic pressure and the spread of resistant strains a result of health care worker and/or patient transfer among hospitals. This snapshot epidemiologic study highlights the need to institute stricter infection control measures to limit the spread of organisms such as Acinetobacter among hospitals.