Secondary carriage with multi-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae in an adult ICU population: Relationship with nosocomial infections and mortality

A one year prospective, observational survey was performed to evaluate the abnormal carriage of multi-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and/or Acinetobacter baumannii, to determine associated risk factors for carriage, and to correlate the abnormal carriage with infectious morbidity and mortality in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a University Hospital. Two hundred and ninety-eight patients who stayed in the ICU >48h, and were not neutropenic, were studied. Salivary and rectal samples were obtained on admission and weekly until discharge. Out of 265 evaluable patients, 88 (33%) developed oropharyngeal and/or rectal carriage within a median of nine days. Three factors were significantly associated with abnormal carriage: higher 'severity of illness score on admission, a threefold increase in ICU stay, and the need for mechanical ventilation. K. pneumoniae or A. baumannii accounted for 57/158 (36%) of all ICU-acquired infections (in 46 patients). They were considered as secondary endogenous infections (SEI) in 42 patients who were previously colonized with the same strains, and developed infection within a median of three days (range 0-68 days). Prolonged stay in ICU was the only factor associated with SEI in the carrier population. Mortality was significantly greater in the carrier group (43 vs 25%, P=0.0006). Post hoc stratification suggested that abnormal carriage only influenced mortality in patients showing a low severity of illness score on admission to ICU. Abnormal carriage was found in the most severely ill patients, predisposed to secondary nosocomial infections, and co influence mortality in the less severely ill.