Detection of Acinetobacter bacteria in samples of patients in a university hospital

Abstract

Background and aims: Hospital-acquired infections constitute health and economic obstacles for both patients and health authorities, in addition to the difficulty of treating them. Acinetobacter bacteria are non-fermenting, Gram-negative coccobacilli, isolated in hospital environments causing widespread infections and resistant to antibiotics, and disinfectants clearly in recent decades. In view of the spread of Acinetobacter in our hospitals, causing hospital-acquired infections, this study will investigate it in our patient population at Al-Mouwasat University Hospital in Damascus, with a comparison between the wards, sample, age and gender.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Al- Mouwasat University Hospital, on all samples received to the microbiology laboratory required for culture for one year (12 months) starting from 1/7/2020 to 1/7/2021, and all Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative fermenting ,and oxidase positive  bacteria were excluded , then identification of Acinetobacter was confirmed after Gram staining of the samples.

Results: 92 samples were identified as Acinetobacter bacteria, which corresponds to the percentages (5.78%, 92/1591) for Gram-negative bacteria, and (54.76%, 92/168) for non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria.The prevalence of Acinetobacter in the samples was distributed among males 65.2%, vs.  34.8% females. Comparing hospital wards showed that the intensive care unit had the highest prevalence (27%) , followed by the fifth aid ward (20%). Ainetobacter was isolated from the sputum with the highest percentage (44.6%). The highest percentage of infections was 19.6% in the month of October.

Conclusion: Our study confirmed the presence of nosocomial infections acquired by Acinetobacter bacteria in the hospital, and determined the difference in their spread among the hospital wards. The study also showed the difference in the frequency of infection between months and seasons of the year, so that it can be followed more strict prevention methods, during those periods.