An Emerging Challenge to Clinicians

Multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-AB) is threatening patients admitted to intensive care wards in Lebanese hospitals. Our aim is to determine the percentage of mortality, identification of risk factors, antibiotics evaluation and survival analysis of MDR-AB infected patients. Survey data was analyzed based on 307 patients, from whom 370 positive culture isolates were recovered. Culture sites included: respiratory tract, wounds, blood, urine, intravenous catheter, and cerebrospinal fluid. During the hospital stay, 66.8% were deceased. Risk factors included hospital stay above 14 days, immunocompromized, chronic pulmonary disease, mechanically ventilated, oxygen supplementation through nasal canula, surgery, recent antibiotics, foley catheter, central catheter, and bed sore. This study indicates that the inappropriate management of the infection, virulence of MDR AB, and co-morbidities pose a threat on critical care patients. Given the restricted antibiotic options, clinical pharmacists have a key role in enhancing surveillance for these organisms at unit-specific, institutional, and national levels.