Multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter infections in Canadian soldiers
Author Information
Author(s): Tien Homer C, Battad Anthony, Bryce Elizabeth A, Fuller Jeffrey, Mulvey Michael, Bernard Kathy, Brisebois Ronald, Doucet Jay J, Rizoli Sandro B, Fowler Robert, Simor Andrew
Primary Institution: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Hypothesis
What is the source of multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections in critically injured Canadian forces soldiers?
Conclusion
The study suggests that the source of A. baumannii infection for the patients was an environmental source in the military field hospital in Kandahar.
Supporting Evidence
- Four out of six soldiers who required mechanical ventilation developed A. baumannii VAP.
- A. baumannii was isolated from a ventilator air intake filter in Kandahar.
- Patient isolates were genetically indistinguishable from each other and from the environmental isolate.
Takeaway
Some soldiers got sick from a germ called Acinetobacter after being injured in Afghanistan, and it likely came from their hospital equipment.
Methodology
Retrospective study of Canadian soldiers injured in Afghanistan who required mechanical ventilation, identifying those who developed A. baumannii VAP and comparing isolates.
Potential Biases
The lack of individual consent and the small number of patients may introduce bias in the findings.
Limitations
The study could only identify A. baumannii in one environmental sample, and there was a delay in processing samples due to lack of microbiological testing capabilities in the field.
Participant Demographics
Mean age of patients was 26.5 years, with three sustaining multiple injuries from improvised explosive devices and one with a severe head injury.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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