Isolation Duration for Acinetobacter baumannii Infection

Isolation Requirements

Patients diagnosed with A. baumannii infection should be placed in a single room with a self-contained toilet and dedicated hand basin 2
Isolation should be maintained throughout the full course of effective antimicrobial therapy, which is recommended to be 2 weeks for severe infections 1, 3
Shorter isolation periods may be acceptable for less severe infections, but should be determined based on clinical improvement and infection site 4
Notes and charts should be kept outside the room, and patients should have dedicated equipment where possible 2

Healthcare workers must use personal protective equipment (PPE) including disposable gloves and aprons when in contact with the patient, their equipment, or immediate surroundings 2
Facial protection (fluid-repellent surgical mask and eye shield/visor) is recommended when there is risk of transmission from droplets, such as during bronchoscopy or suctioning 2
Strict hand hygiene must be practiced by healthcare workers before and after patient contact, regardless of glove use 2
Environmental cleaning of the isolation room, furniture, and equipment must be performed daily at minimum, with terminal cleaning upon patient discharge 2

For patients with A. baumannii pulmonary infections, nebulized antibiotics (particularly colistin) may be considered as adjunctive therapy, which can increase cure rates 3
The recommended dose of nebulized colistin is 2 million IU every 8 or 12 hours, although higher doses can be used in non-resolving cases 2
Patients should not be moved from isolation for non-clinical reasons; if transport is necessary (e.g., for medical procedures), the patient should wear appropriate protection 2

Isolation should continue for the full duration of antimicrobial therapy (typically 2 weeks for severe infections) 1, 3
Clinical improvement, including decreased cough and reduction in the number of organisms on sequential cultures, should be observed before discontinuing isolation 1

Inadequate environmental cleaning can allow A. baumannii to persist and cause ongoing transmission despite other control measures 2