title: Aerosolization of Acinetobacter baumannii in a trauma ICU*.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish the presence of air contamination with Acinetobacter baumannii in the trauma ICU.
  
  
  METHODS
  Point prevalence microbiological surveillances.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 1,500-bed public teaching hospital in the Miami metro area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Trauma ICU patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pulsed field electrophoresis was performed on environmental and clinical isolates to determine the association of any isolates from the air with clinical isolates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 53 patient areas cultured, 12 (22.6%) had their air positive for A. baumannii. The presence of an A. baumannii-positive patient (underneath the plate) was associated with positive air cultures for A. baumannii (11 of 21 [52.4%] vs 0 of 25 [0%]; p < 0.0001). However, we were not able to find differences in air contamination based on the presence of A. baumannii in respiratory secretions versus absence (p = 1.0). Air and clinical isolates were found to be clonally related.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aerosolization of A. baumannii in the ICUs is a concern, and its role in the transmission of this organism among patients should be further clarified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: L Silvia
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Munoz-Price
authors.forename: Yovanit
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fajardo-Aquino
authors.forename: Kristopher L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Arheart
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cleary
authors.forename: Dennise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: DePascale
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pizano
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Namias
authors.forename: Jesabel I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: Jessica A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: O'Hara
authors.forename: Yohei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Doi
mesh_terms: D000151:Acinetobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000391:Air Microbiology; D015780:Carbapenems / Q000494:pharmacology; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D058885:Multilocus Sequence Typing; D010362:Patients' Rooms; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014691:Ventilation
chemical_list: D015780:Carbapenems