Risk Factors for Acquisition of Carbapenem Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary Care Hospital

The rise of Carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) in intensive care units has been associated with certain risk factors as confirmed by various studies. The study was carried out to assess these risk factors for acquisition of CRAB in patients of Intensive care units of a teratiary care hospital. Prospective case control study was conducted from Sep 2010 to Aug 2012. Cases were patients from whose clinical sample Acinetobacter baumanii were isolated. They were grouped into CRAB and Carbapenem sensitive Acinetobacter baumanii (CSAB) groups based on meropenem sensitivity testing. Their demographic and clinical details were recorded and compared as risk factors for acquisition of CRAB. Various independent risk factors for acquisition of CRAB were assessed. Out of all the factors none came to be significant for acquisition of CRAB over CSAB. The study has brought out that various risk factors are not significant in acquisition of CRAB over CSAB.