Multi-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii on a burns unit—clinical risk factors and prognosis

Burns patients are highly susceptible to infection, and preventing and treating infection are integral to the successful management of severe burns. Multi-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MR-AB) strains are becoming increasingly important in nosocomial infections. We conducted a retrospective study of all adult admissions to the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) National Burns Center over an 18-month period. The only independent risk factors for the acquisition of MR-AB were the APACHE II score on admission and the number of intravascular lines placed. The only independent predictor of infection with MR-AB was the number of intravascular lines placed. The only independent predictors of longer length of stay were the total number of operations required and infection with MR-AB. The only independent predictor of mortality was the APACHE II score. This is in contrast to other studies that have suggested that the acquisition of MR-AB is an independent risk factor for mortality.