Active surveillance for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria in the intensive care unit

Iain J Abbott, Adam W Jenney, Denis W Spelman, David V Pilcher, Hanna E Sidjabat, Leisha J Richardson, David L Paterson, Anton Y Peleg

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9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A short-term program of performing serial active screening cultures (ASC) in the intensive care unit was instituted to establish a method for the detection of antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) and the local rates of colonisation. Of all submitted ASC, 25.9 (30/116 collected swabs) isolated an antibiotic-resistant GNB. ChromID ESBL agar (bioMerieux, France) identified the majority of these organisms, with the additional antibiotic-impregnated media [MacConkey agar (MCA) with ciprofloxacin, MCA with gentamicin and MCA with ceftazidime] adding limited benefit. Compared to swabs performed on admission, 37.8 (14/37) of patients cultured a new antibiotic-resistant isolate on discharge. Serial screening in intensive care has the ability to identify patients with unrecognised colonisation with antibiotic-resistant GNB; however, the increase in the laboratory workload and logistical challenges in the collection of the surveillance swabs may limit this program s expansion.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)575 - 579
Number of pages5
JournalPathology
Volume47
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015

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