Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections in lung transplant patients in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit

Background Multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative bacteria are a growing threat to solid organ transplantation (SOT) patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). We aimed to examine the mortality rates of gram-negative MDR bacterial infection in SOT patients compared with patient population undergoing other cardiothoracic surgeries and hospitalized under similar ICU conditions. Methods A retrospective study from a single medical center, including patients with MDRAcinetobacter baumannii and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infection, hospitalized in the cardiothoracic ICU. Data were collected from computerized databases, and data were verified using the hospitalization files. Microbiological data were provided by the microbiology laboratory. Results During the study period, 205 SOT patients and 5031 other patients were hospitalized in the cardiothoracic ICU. Active infection with gram-negative MDR bacteria was identified in 147 patients, of which 37 underwent SOT (18% of total transplant recipients) and 110 underwent another cardiothoracic surgery (2% of total patients who are not transplant recipients). Mortality rates were high among both groups of patients, with no significant difference between them. Conclusions Infection with resistant bacteria is more prevalent among patients following SOT compared with patients following other cardiothoracic surgeries. Mortality is high in all patients regardless of the immunocompromised condition.