Frequent multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii contamination of gloves, gowns, and hands of healthcare workers.
BACKGROUND
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative bacilli are important nosocomial pathogens.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of transmission of MDR Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from patients to healthcare workers (HCWs) during routine patient care.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Medical and surgical intensive care units. Methods. We observed HCWs who entered the rooms of patients colonized with MDR A. baumannii or colonized with both MDR A. baumannii and MDR P. aeruginosa. We examined their hands before room entry, their disposable gloves and/or gowns upon completion of patient care, and their hands after removal of gloves and/or gowns and before hand hygiene.


RESULTS
Sixty-five interactions occurred with patients colonized with MDR A. baumannii and 134 with patients colonized with both MDR A. baumannii and MDR P. aeruginosa. Of 199 interactions between HCWs and patients colonized with MDR A. baumannii, 77 (38.7% [95% confidence interval {CI}, 31.9%-45.5%]) resulted in HCW contamination of gloves and/or gowns, and 9 (4.5% [95% CI, 1.6%-7.4%]) resulted in contamination of HCW hands after glove removal before hand hygiene. Of 134 interactions with patients colonized with MDR P. aeruginosa, 11 (8.2% [95% CI, 3.6%-12.9%]) resulted in HCW contamination of gloves and/or gowns, and 1 resulted in HCW contamination of hands. Independent risk factors for contamination with MDR A. baumannii were manipulation of wound dressing (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 25.9 [95% CI, 3.1-208.8]), manipulation of artificial airway (aOR, 2.1 [95% CI, 1.1-4.0]), time in room longer than 5 minutes (aOR, 4.3 [95% CI, 2.0-9.1]), being a physician or nurse practitioner (aOR, 7.4 [95% CI, 1.6-35.2]), and being a nurse (aOR, 2.3 [95% CI, 1.1-4.8]).


CONCLUSIONS
Gowns, gloves, and unwashed hands of HCWs were frequently contaminated with MDR A. baumannii. MDR A. baumannii appears to be more easily transmitted than MDR P. aeruginosa and perhaps more easily transmitted than previously studied methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus. This ease of transmission may help explain the emergence of MDR A. baumannii.
Morgan
Daniel J
DJ
Departments of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. dmorgan@epi.umaryland.edu
Liang
Stephen Y
SY
Smith
Catherine L
CL
Johnson
J Kristie
JK
Harris
Anthony D
AD
Furuno
Jon P
JP
Thom
Kerri A
KA
Snyder
Graham M
GM
Day
Hannah R
HR
Perencevich
Eli N
EN
D000151:Acinetobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D017575:Gloves, Protective / Q000382:microbiology; D006225:Hand / Q000382:microbiology*; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008396:Maryland; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000382:microbiology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects; D012307:Risk Factors
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents