title: The diversity of definitions of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and pandrug-resistant (PDR) Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
abstract: Different definitions of the terms multidrug-resistant (MDR) and pandrug-resistant (PDR) Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been used in the biomedical literature. The authors searched for relevant studies indexed in the PubMed database (01/2000-09/2005) to systematically examine the various definitions of MDR and PDR for these bacteria. Initially 107 retrieved relevant studies were reviewed. Ninety-two studies were further analysed, 50 of which focused on A. baumannii and 42 on P. aeruginosa. A considerable diversity of definitions of the terms MDR and PDR A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa was found. Of note, the term PDR was inappropriately used in all five studies that used it. The review reveals that various definitions have been used for the terms MDR and PDR A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa, a fact that causes confusion to researchers and clinicians. The authors believe that at least a widely accepted definition for PDR A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa should be uniformly used worldwide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.|Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences (AIBS), 9 Neapoleos Street, 151 23 Marousi, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Falagas
authors.affiliation: Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences (AIBS), 9 Neapoleos Street, 151 23 Marousi, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Patra K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Koletsi
authors.affiliation: Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences (AIBS), 9 Neapoleos Street, 151 23 Marousi, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Bliziotis
mesh_terms: D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000187:drug effects*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects*; D009626:Terminology as Topic
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents