Clinical significance of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from central venous catheter tip cultures in patients without concomitant bacteremia

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical implications of a positive central venous catheter (CVC) tip culture with multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MRAB) in patients without concurrent bacteremia. Methods: This retrospective, multicenter study was conducted in 9 teaching hospitals in the Republic of Korea from May 2008 to April 2012. Study subjects included adult patients (aged 18 y) who yielded an MRAB-positive CVC tip culture without concurrent MRAB bacteremia. All patients were observed for the development of subsequent MRAB bacteremia for 6 months after CVC removal. Multivariable Firth logistic regression analysis was performed to determine predictors independently associated with subsequent MRAB bacteremia. Results: During the study period, subsequent MRAB bacteremia was observed in 18.8% of patients (21/112). Of the 112 patients, 23 (20.5%) did not show systemic infl ammatory response syndrome (SIRS). None of the 23 patients without SIRS presented with subsequent MRAB bacteremia. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that prior administration of carbapenems (odds ratio (OR) 7.04, 95% confi dence interval (CI) 1.43 – 34.77) or corticosteroids (OR 6.67, 95% CI 1.19 – 37.44), and C-reactive protein 40 mg/l (OR 18.11, 95% CI 2.22 – 148.07) were positive predictive factors. Prior acquisition of MRAB at a site other than the catheter (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.03 – 0.39) was a negative predictive factor for developing MRAB bacteremia. Conclusions: Our results suggest that patients with a CVC tip colonized with MRAB should be closely monitored for signs and symptoms of subsequent MRAB bacteremia.