Risk Factors for Infection and Molecular Typing in Patients in the Intensive Care Unit Colonized with NosocomialEnterobacter Aerogenes

Abstract

Objectives:To determine the frequency of colonization byEnterobacter aerogenesin patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) for more than 48 hours and to evaluate the risk factors for infection in patients colonized by this bacteria.Design:An 8-month prospective study.Setting:A 12-bed medical–surgical ICU in a 450-bed, university-affiliated, tertiary-care hospital in Belgium.Method:Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was used to determine the genotypes ofE. aerogenesisolates.Results:We observed two major clones ofE. aerogenesin the ICU. Interestingly, 87.5% of infected patients had the same genomic profile for colonization and infection. Risk factors for infection in this particular population included younger age, prolonged hospital stay, mechanical ventilation, and bronchoscopy.Conclusions:Colonization is a major prerequisite for infection. The identification of risk factors for infection in colonized patients can optimize the quality of treatment in the ICU.