We describe the first emergence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in Australia. Ninety A. baumannii isolates recovered from cultures of blood specimens from 69 patients were analyzed. Overall, 58 isolates (64%) were resistant to meropenem. The χ2 test for linear trend revealed that emergence of carbapenem resistance was statistically significant during the 32-month study period. Selected isolates were of the same clonal type, and no genes encoding carbapenemases were identified.

We describe the first emergence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in Australia. Ninety A. baumannii isolates recovered from cultures of blood specimens from 69 patients were analyzed. Overall, 58 isolates (64%) were resistant to meropenem. The χ2 test for linear trend revealed that emergence of carbapenem resistance was statistically significant during the 32-month study period. Selected isolates were of the same clonal type, and no genes encoding carbapenemases were identified.

The prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in the community is increasing, and companion animals serve as a potential reservoir for such bacteria. This report describes a case of a companion dog that was treated with multiple courses of antibiotics for a chronic illness and transmitted multidrug-resistant bacteria to a human through a bite.

The prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in the community is increasing, and companion animals serve as a potential reservoir for such bacteria. This report describes a case of a companion dog that was treated with multiple courses of antibiotics for a chronic illness and transmitted multidrug-resistant bacteria to a human through a bite.

US emergency department physicians surveyed were more likely to offer hepatitis B prophylaxis to patients after unknown hepatitis B status needlestick injuries than sexual exposures, especially consensual sex. There was no difference in willingness to offer prophylaxis with respect to patient occupation or age or with respect to ED physicians' demographic and professional characteristics.

US emergency department physicians surveyed were more likely to offer hepatitis B prophylaxis to patients after unknown hepatitis B status needlestick injuries than sexual exposures, especially consensual sex. There was no difference in willingness to offer prophylaxis with respect to patient occupation or age or with respect to ED physicians' demographic and professional characteristics.

We report the epidemiological investigation of an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in 6 patients who shared, during different periods, the same 2 rooms of a bone marrow transplantation unit. Phenotypic and molecular analysis of isolates from patients and from the environment strongly suggested a single, environmental source of infection.

We report the epidemiological investigation of an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in 6 patients who shared, during different periods, the same 2 rooms of a bone marrow transplantation unit. Phenotypic and molecular analysis of isolates from patients and from the environment strongly suggested a single, environmental source of infection.

We evaluated Legionella pneumophila contamination of water and surrounding air in a burn care department equipped with bathtubs. In water, the bacterium always aerosolized, but in surrounding air, it diluted itself to such a point that it became undetectable at 1 m or more from the source of emission, which indicated that patients were at low risk of inhaling a dangerous quantity of the microbe.

We evaluated Legionella pneumophila contamination of water and surrounding air in a burn care department equipped with bathtubs. In water, the bacterium always aerosolized, but in surrounding air, it diluted itself to such a point that it became undetectable at 1 m or more from the source of emission, which indicated that patients were at low risk of inhaling a dangerous quantity of the microbe.

We describe an outbreak of multidrug-resistant Serratia marcescens infection and colonization involving adults admitted to a surgical intensive care unit. Examination of the outbreak revealed epidemiological evidence that consumption of tap water from a contaminated faucet during receipt of oral medication was the mechanism of S. marcescens acquisition.

We describe an outbreak of multidrug-resistant Serratia marcescens infection and colonization involving adults admitted to a surgical intensive care unit. Examination of the outbreak revealed epidemiological evidence that consumption of tap water from a contaminated faucet during receipt of oral medication was the mechanism of S. marcescens acquisition.

Disinfectants containing 3-methyl-4-chlorophenol were tested for their capacity to inactivate the infectious agent of scrapie. Coincubation of brain homogenates prepared from terminally ill scrapie-infected hamsters with the disinfectants rendered the prion protein PrPSc sensitive to proteinase K digestion. Inoculation of hamsters with disinfectant-treated samples indicated a reduction in infectivity levels to below the limit of detection.

Disinfectants containing 3-methyl-4-chlorophenol were tested for their capacity to inactivate the infectious agent of scrapie. Coincubation of brain homogenates prepared from terminally ill scrapie-infected hamsters with the disinfectants rendered the prion protein PrPSc sensitive to proteinase K digestion. Inoculation of hamsters with disinfectant-treated samples indicated a reduction in infectivity levels to below the limit of detection.

A 2-step polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis, respectively, were assessed to identify coagulase-negative staphylococci organisms to the species level and to determine the strain diversity and spread of Staphylococcus epidermidis, the most frequently isolated species, in a medical center in Beirut, Lebanon. Our data indicated that PCR was faster and was more efficient in identifying S. epidermidis isolates than is conventional biochemical testing. RAPD analysis have shown that S. epidermidis strains were scattered across the different clinical services, demonstrating various clusters of infection in the medical center.

A 2-step polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis, respectively, were assessed to identify coagulase-negative staphylococci organisms to the species level and to determine the strain diversity and spread of Staphylococcus epidermidis, the most frequently isolated species, in a medical center in Beirut, Lebanon. Our data indicated that PCR was faster and was more efficient in identifying S. epidermidis isolates than is conventional biochemical testing. RAPD analysis have shown that S. epidermidis strains were scattered across the different clinical services, demonstrating various clusters of infection in the medical center.

We analyzed the epidemiological characteristics of pneumonia in intensive care units of Polish hospitals. Among 11,587 patients, there were 191 cases of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). The incidence of HAP was 5.6%, and that of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) was 17.9%. The overall mortality rate was 12.6%, and the mortality rate for patients who received artificial ventilation was 15.0%. The predominant organisms causing HAP and VAP were Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, and 21.1% of Staphylococcus aureus isolates were resistant to methicillin.