Factors associated with epidemic multiresistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in a hospital with AIDS-predominant admissions

introduction: infections caused by multiresistant pseudomonas aeruginosa (mr-pa) have been associated with persistent infections and high mortality in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids) patients. therefore, understanding the predisposing factors for infection/colonization by this agent is critical for controlling outbreaks caused by mr-pa in settings with aids patients. objectiveand methods: to analyze the presence of factors associated with the acquisition of an epidemic mr-pa strain in a hospital with aids-predominant admission. a case-control study was carried out in which cases and controls were gathered from a prospective cohort of all hospitalized patients in an infectious disease hospital during a five-year study period. results: multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that enteral nutrition or = 14.9), parenteral nutrition (or = 10.7), and use of ciprofloxacin (or = 8.9) were associated with a significant and independent risk for mr-pa acquisition. conclusions: although cross-colonization was likely responsible for the outbreaks, the use of ciprofloxacin was also an important factor associated with the acquisition of an epidemic mr-pa strain. more studies are necessary to determine whether different types of nutrition could lead to modification of gastrointestinal flora, thereby increasing the risk for infection/colonization by mr-pa in this population.