Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial Colonization of Combat-Injured Personnel at Admission to Medical Centers After Evacuation from Afghanistan and Iraq

Abstract

Multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) infections, including those secondary to Acinetobacter (ACB) and extended spectrum Beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species) have complicated the care of combat-injured personnel during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Data suggest that the source of these bacterial infections includes nosocomial transmission in both deployed hospitals and receiving military medical centers (MEDCENs). Admission screening for MDRO colonization has been established to monitor this problem and effectiveness of responses to it. Admission colonization screening of injured personnel began in 2003 at the three US-based MEDCENs receiving the majority of combat-injured personnel. This was extended to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC; Germany) in 2005. Focused on ACB initially, screening was expanded to include all MDROs in 2009 with a standardized screening strategy at LRMC and US-based MEDCENs for patients evacuated from the combat zone. Eighteen thousand five hundred sixty of 21,272 patients admitted to the 4 MEDCENs in calendar years 2005 to 2009 were screened for MDRO colonization. Average admission ACB colonization rates at the US-based MEDCENs declined during this 5-year period from 21% (2005) to 4% (2009); as did rates at LRMC (7-1%). In the first year of screening for all MDROs, 6% (171 of 2,989) of patients were found colonized at admission, only 29% (50) with ACB. Fifty-seven percent of patients (98) were colonized with ESBL-producing E. coli and 11% (18) with ESBL-producing Klebsiella species. Although colonization with ACB declined during the past 5 years, there seems to be replacement of this pathogen with ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 2011
Accession Number
ADA546433

Entities

People

  • Clinton K. Murray
  • Duane R. Hospenthal
  • Fluryanne Leach
  • Glenn W. Wortmann
  • Helen K. Crouch
  • Jane Pool
  • Janelle L. Robertson
  • Judith F. English
  • Nicholas G. Conger
  • Timothy J. Whitman

Organizations

  • San Antonio Military Medical Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Bacteria
  • Bacterial Infections
  • Combat Casualty Care
  • Escherichia Coli
  • Health Services
  • Infection
  • Infection Control
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Medical Personnel
  • Microbiology
  • Military Hospitals
  • Military Medicine
  • Military Personnel
  • Patient Care
  • Therapy

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Microbial Pathology
  • Naval Personnel Management
  • Trauma or Military Medicine