Interventions suggested to prevent multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter infections in war injuries
FRIDAY, July 8 (HealthDay News) -- The identification of themes involved in the transmission of multi-drug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter infections, sources of transmission, and interventions to reduce infections offer new insight into MDR Acinetobacter infections in war injuries, according to a review published in the July issue of the AORN Journal.
Denise Moultrie, M.S.N., R.N., from the Brooke Army Medical Center in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and colleagues reviewed available literature to describe and identify factors contributing to MDR Acinetobacter infections in traumatic war wounds and in the military treatment facility population. The common link between infections and sources of transmission was identified to validate current interventions.
The investigators identified five major themes of commonality affecting MDR Acinetobacter transmission: wound types, risk factors, contributing factors, modes of transmission, and prevention strategies or treatment modalities. Studies that should be replicated in military populations were also identified. The sources of transmission were identified from environment (walls, countertops, and bedside curtains) to wound, and from health care worker to wound. Interventions to reduce or eliminate health care-associated or surgical-site MDR Acinetobacter infections included strict infection control guidelines, appropriate use of antibiotics, and notification of infected patients.
"From the data collected in this literature review, we identified sufficient research findings to support a pilot study to evaluate the implementation of strict infection control guidelines in the management of MDR Acinetobacter infections to halt further transmission of these infections across the military health care system," the authors write.
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