Incidence and risk factors associated with Acinetobacter species infection in hospitalised patients in a tertiary care hospital in North- India

Purpose: Acinetobacter species has become a worldwide concern as a cause of serious nosocomial infections. This study is done to determine the incidence, resistance pattern and risk factors associated with Acinetobacter species infection in hospitalized patients of Era’s Lucknow Medical College and Hospital (ELMCH), Lucknow. Methods: Total 1850 samples were taken from patients admitted in wards of different departments of ELMCH from Sep 2012 to Sep 2013. Identification of isolates was done by colony characteristics and biochemical reactions. Antimicrobial susceptibility of Acinetobacter isolates was done using Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method according to Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Risk factors associated with Acinetobacter infection were found out. Results and Discussion: 46 isolates were identified as Acinetobacter species. High level of resistance was observed for most of the antibiotics tested. More than 80% of isolates were resistant to amikacin, gentamycin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin and tetracycline. 30.43% of isolates were resistant to cefoperazone/ sulbactum and resistance to imipenem and colistin was 23.91% and 19.56% respectively. There was no independent risk factor for Acinetobacter infection identified but its infection was significantly associated with longer hospital stay (>48 hours), antibiotic intake in last 72 hours and use of invasive devices specially peripheral venous catheter.