title: Assessing the burden of Acinetobacter baumannii in Maryland: a statewide cross-sectional period prevalence survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of Acinetobacter baumannii, an important healthcare-associated pathogen, among mechanically ventilated patients in Maryland.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Maryland MDRO Prevention Collaborative performed a statewide cross-sectional active surveillance survey of mechanically ventilated patients residing in acute care and long-term care (LTC) facilities. Surveillance cultures (sputum and perianal) were obtained from all mechanically ventilated inpatients at participating facilities during a 2-week period.
  
  
  METHODS
  All healthcare facilities in Maryland that provide care for mechanically ventilated patients were invited to participate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mechanically ventilated patients, known to be at high risk for colonization and infection with A. baumannii, were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy percent (40/57) of all eligible healthcare facilities participated in the survey, representing both acute care ([Formula: see text]) and LTC ([Formula: see text]) facilities in all geographic regions of Maryland. Surveillance cultures were obtained from 92% (358/390) of eligible patients. A. baumannii was identified in 34% of all mechanically ventilated patients in Maryland; multidrug-resistant A. baumannii was found in 27% of all patients. A. baumannii was detected in at least 1 patient in 49% of participating facilities; 100% of LTC facilities had at least 1 patient with A. baumannii, compared with 31% of acute care facilities. A. baumannii was identified from all facilities in which 10 or more patients were sampled.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A. baumannii is common among mechanically ventilated patients in both acute care and LTC facilities throughout Maryland, with a high proportion of isolates demonstrating multidrug resistance.
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. kthom@epi.umaryland.edu
authors.forename: Kerri A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Thom
authors.forename: Lisa L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Maragakis
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: J Kristie
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roup
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.forename: Anthony D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Elizabeth P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Fuss
authors.forename: Margaret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pass
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blythe
authors.forename: Eli N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Perencevich
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000151:Acinetobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D062486:Public Health Surveillance; D012112:Residential Facilities; D012121:Respiration, Artificial