Vitek 2 compact automatic system

The clinical isolates used in this study were collected from June 2014 to January 2015 as different kinds of specimen sample types, including sputum, urine, abscess secretion, blood, hydrothorax, and ascites, from infected patients who visited the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, P.R. China, a three A‐level large‐scale comprehensive teaching hospital with 2,200 beds. Bacterial strains were primarily identified as A. baumannii complex by VITEK 2 COMPACT^® automatic system (bioMérieux). Bacterial cultures were preserved in bacterial magnetic bead cryopreservation tubes, maintained at −80°C, and subcultured on blood agar plates overnight to obtain monoclonal colonies at 37°C before each experimental assay. The antibiotic susceptibility of all strains was evaluated using the VITEK 2 COMPACT^® automatic system and determined according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute procedures (Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute, 2014). Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 27923 served as quality controls for the susceptibility test.

All patients received I.V. vancomycin (Vancocin, Vianex S.A.) alone or in combination with meropenem. Vancomycin was administrated I.V. 1,000 mg every 12 h (0.9% NaCl 250 ml dilution, continuous infused 2 h with a syringe pump) as the recommended daily dose for adult patients with normal renal function. No patients received corticosteroids during anti-infection treatment. Samples of blood and CSF were collected at the fifth dose (day 3). At least 2 ml of venous blood and 2 ml of CSF were collected 0.5 h before the start of infusion of vancomycin, and 1, 2, 3, and 8 h from the start of infusion. CSF samples were obtained by a temporary lumbar catheterization. About 2 ml of CSF remaining in the drainage tube was discarded, and 2 ml of fresh CSF was collected. The blood and CSF samples were collected using normal biochemical test tubes.
At the fifth CSF collection, appropriate amount of CSF was collected for CSF biochemical analysis, cytological analysis, PCT analysis, and microbial culture. Bacteriological antibiotic sensitivity test was determined using the Vitek-2 Compact automatic system (Biomerieux Inc., France). The temporary lumbar tube was removed or retained according to treatment needs after the collection of CSF samples.