Multidisciplinary Interventions to Reduce the Incidence of Acinetobacter baumannii

ISSUE: Acinetobacter baumannii is a gram-negative bacillus that is a cause of both community and nosocomial infections and is generally resistant to many antibiotics. Infection Control first noted an increase in Acinetobacter incidence causing ventilator-associated respiratory infections in the second quarter of 2001. Although infection rates did not increase, the percentage of infections with Acinetobacter isolates doubled from the previous year. PROJECT: A multidisciplinary team consisting of Infection Control, Critical Care Nursing, Nursing Education, Respiratory Care, Pharmacy, and Quality came together to address this issue. Staff education was conducted via newsletters and inservice programs. A number of measures were implemented, including nursing practice changes such as dry suctioning, aseptic management of bedside equipment, attention to hand hygiene, and the installation of alcohol handwash in all critical-care patient rooms. RESULTS: There was a decrease in the incidence of Acinetobacter and other resistant organisms by the third quarter of 2002, with a continuing downward trend through the second quarter of 2003. LESSONS LEARNED: The success of this project emphasizes the importance of a team approach to problem-solving. The involvement of many disciplines is critical to the ongoing effort to stay ahead of the dangerous trend toward the emergence of resistant pathogens in the healthcare arena.