🧪 Best Laboratory Surveillance Strategies for MDR Acinetobacter baumannii ICU Outbreaks

In prolonged ICU outbreaks caused by multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, the persistence of environmental contamination and cross-transmission among patients remains a major challenge.

🔍 What are the most effective laboratory-based surveillance strategies to detect and monitor both environmental and patient sources in resource-limited settings?

💬 Please share your experiences with:

🧫 Environmental sampling protocols

🧍‍♂️ Patient screening strategies (e.g., rectal swabs, respiratory surveillance)

🧬 Molecular typing methods (PFGE, WGS, rep-PCR)

🧩 The role of infection control–lab collaboration

📌 Please share any validated protocols, insights, or lessons learned from your institution or region.