Trend in total reports

There is a 11.9% decrease (Figure 1 and Table 2) in the total reports of Acinetobacter spp. bacteraemia reported via the voluntary surveillance scheme in 2008 (984 reports), compared to 2004 (1,117 reports). In comparison with data reported in 2007 there was a large decrease (21.0%) in the number of reports of Acinetobacter spp.bacteraemia in 2008. This could be attributed to the reduction in the number of reporting laboratories (164 in 2007 to 153 in 2008) rather than decreased incidence. Reports for 2008 are provisional as of 27th October 2009.

Figure 1 Acinetobacter spp. bacteraemia reports: 2004 to 2008*

* Data extracted 27th October 2009

Completeness of laboratory reports

The number of laboratories voluntarily reporting data for Acinetobacter spp. bacteraemia has decreased marginally from 166 in 2004 to 153 in 2008 (an 8% decrease) (Table 1). However, during this period, there were increases in the percentage of laboratories either identifying Acinetobacter isolates to species level or reporting drug susceptibility data. The percentage of laboratories identifying Acinetobacter isolates to species level increased from 83% in 2004 to 89% in 2008 while the percentage reporting drug susceptibility data increased from 87% in 2004 to 92% in 2008. The percentage of laboratories identifying Acinetobacter species and reporting drug susceptibility data increased from 71% in 2004 to 82% in 2008.

It is important to note the majority of participating laboratories are relying on phenotypic identification systems which are less reliable than molecular methods; the latter are not available in most routine diagnostic laboratories. Data collection and analyses are further complicated by the fact reports of A. lwoffii may be due to contamination of blood cultures. In contrast with A. calcoaceticus/baumannii which, being frequently resistant to multiple antibiotics is often associated with substantial patient morbidity, A. lwoffii is not usually pathogneic to humans with an estimated 20 to 25% of healthy individuals carrying this organism as part of normal skin flora. Participating laboratories are requested to report microbiology data for only clinically significant cases.

Table 1 Laboratories reporting Acinetobacter spp. bacteraemia: 2004 to 2008*

* Data extracted 27th October 2009.

Last reviewed: 19 April 2010