title: VEB-1 Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii, France.
abstract: VEB-1 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii was responsible for an outbreak in hospitals in France. A national alert was triggered in September 2003 when 4 hospitals reported clusters of A. baumannii infection with similar susceptibility profiles. Case definitions and laboratory guidelines were disseminated, and prospective surveillance was implemented; strains were sent to a single laboratory for characterization and typing. From April 2003 through June 2004, 53 hospitals reported 290 cases of A. baumannii infection or colonization; 275 isolates were bla(VEB-1)-positive and clonally related. Cases were first reported in 5 districts of northern France, then in 10 other districts in 4 regions. Within a region, interhospital spread was associated with patient transfer. In northern France, investigation and control measures led to a reduction of reported cases after January 2004. The national alert enabled early control of new clusters, demonstrating the usefulness of early warning about antimicrobial drug resist.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Höpital de Bicêtre, 73 rue du Général Leclerc, 94275 Le Kremlin-Bicêtre CEDEX, France. thierry.naas@bct.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Naas
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Coignard
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carbonne
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blanckaert
authors.forename: Odile
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bajolet
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bernet
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Verdeil
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Astagneau
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Desenclos
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nordmann
mesh_terms: D000151:Acinetobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011159:Population Surveillance; D018440:beta-Lactam Resistance; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C119424:beta-lactamase VEB-1, E coli; D001618:beta-Lactamases