In 1994, 171 (27%) of all positive blood cultures in our hospital
were due to Acinetobacter
species. Of these, 138 cultures were considered significant, 91 (66%) were
community-acquired
and 47 (34%) were nosocomial. Most acinetobacter bacteraemia in children
[les ]1 year old was
community-acquired, while nosocomial infection was more common in children
>1 year old
(P=0·01). Most children [les ]5 years old were
severely malnourished. The incidence of
bacteraemia was lowest during the post-monsoon to early winter months.
Acinetobacter
bacteraemia associated mortality was twice (16%) that of all other patients
(7·7%, P < 0·0005)
and accounted for 4·5% of all hospital deaths during the study
period. Bacteraemia caused by
Acinetobacter species is an important cause of morbidity and mortality
among our patient population with diarrhoeal disease.