RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the risk factors of Acinetobacter baummanii in nosocomial infections, and to verify the nature of Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from intensive care unit (ICU).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A hundred and fourty patients associated with nosocomial infection of Acinetobacter baummanii from four teaching hospitals were selected and compared with controls through a case control study to identify risk factors. The strains isolated from the ICU were typed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the primer M(13) following electrophoresis in agarose gel.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The odds ratios (ORs) were: state of the illness (OR = 8.69), using immunosuppressant (OR = 4.85), mechanical ventilation (OR = 3.68) and treatment with 3 kinds of antibiotics (OR = 3.014). Data from PCR studies indicated that these strains were sharing identical band pattern from the five strains.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Risk factors for nosocomial infection with Acinetobacter baummanii included state of an illness, immunosuppressant, mechanical ventilation, and treatment with antibiotics. A multidrug-resistant strains of Acinetobacter baumannii was identified in ICU.</p>
