title: Vascular catheter-related bloodstream infection due to Acinetobacter johnsonii (formerly Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var. lwoffi): report of 13 cases.
abstract: Although Acinetobacter baumannii (formerly Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var. anitratus) is known to be an important nosocomial pathogen, the clinical impact of other Acinetobacter species is not fully understood. Acinetobacter johnsonii (formerly a subset of A. calcoaceticus var. lwoffii) is considered a commensal on human skin, and infections due to this organism have not been reported previously. During a study period of 18 months, however, 13 patients at 6 hospitals developed catheter-related bloodstream infections caused by A. johnsonii. All patients had an indwelling peripheral or central venous catheter, and 11 patients were receiving a continuous intravenous infusion of heparin via the offending catheter. The clinical course of A. johnsonii bacteremia was usually benign. Infections responded readily to removal of the catheter, with or without administration of appropriate antibiotics. No insertion-site infections were documented. Thus A. johnsonii must be regarded as an organism that can cause rare cases of bloodstream infection in immunocompetent patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seifert
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Strate
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schulze
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pulverer
mesh_terms: D000151:Acinetobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016954:Acinetobacter calcoaceticus; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents