Multi-drug-resistant Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii complex infection outbreak in dogs and cats in a veterinary hospital

• Published in: Journal of small animal practice 2016-11, Vol.57 (11), p.617-625
• Main Authors: Kuzi, S., Blum, S. E., Kahane, N., Adler, A., Hussein, O., Segev, G., Aroch, I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acinetobacter - classification; Acinetobacter - drug effects; Acinetobacter - isolation & purification; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus - classification; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus - drug effects; Acinetobacter calcoaceticus - isolation & purification; Acinetobacter Infections - epidemiology; Acinetobacter Infections - veterinary; Animals; Cat Diseases - drug therapy; Cat Diseases - epidemiology; Cat Diseases - microbiology; Cats; Disease Outbreaks - veterinary; Dog Diseases - drug therapy; Dog Diseases - epidemiology; Dog Diseases - microbiology; Dogs; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Female; Hospitals, Animal; Infections; Israel - epidemiology; Male; Mortality; Retrospective Studies
• ISSN: 0022-4510; 1748-5827
• DOI: 10.1111/jsap.12555

Background Members of the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus‐Acinetobacter baumannii complex cause severe outbreaks in humans, and are increasingly reported in animals. Objective and Methods A retrospective study, describing a severe outbreak in dogs and cats caused by a multidrug resistant member of the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus‐Acinetobacter baumannii complex in a veterinary hospital, between July 2010 and November 2012. Results The study included 19 dogs and 4 cats. Acinetobacter calcoaceticus‐Acinetobacter baumannii complex bacteria were isolated from urine (9 animals), respiratory tract (11), tissues (3) and blood (1). The most common infection‐associated findings included fever, purulent discharge from endotracheal tubes, hypotension, and neutropaenia. Infections led to pneumonia, urinary tract infection, cellulitis and sepsis. Infection was transmitted in the intensive care unit, where 22 of 23 animals were initially hospitalised. The mortality rate was 70% (16 of 23 animals), and was higher in cases of respiratory infection compared to other infections. Aggressive environmental cleaning and disinfection, with staff education for personal hygiene and antisepsis, sharply decreased the infection incidence. Clinical Significance Health care‐associated outbreaks with multidrug resistant Acinetobacter calcoaceticus‐Acinetobacter baumannii complex in dogs and cats are potentially highly fatal and difficult to eradicate, warranting monitoring, antiseptic techniques and judicious antibiotic use.