| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hospital-based series have characterized <it>Hafnia alvei </it>primarily as an infrequent agent of polymicrobial nosocomial infections in males with underlying illness.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted population-based laboratory surveillance in the Calgary Health Region during 2000–2005 to define the incidence, demographic risk factors for acquisition, and anti-microbial susceptibilities of <it>Hafnia alvei </it>isolates.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 138 patients with <it>Hafnia alvei </it>isolates were identified (2.1/100,000/year) and two-thirds were of community onset. Older age and female gender were important risk factors for acquisition. The most common focus of isolation was urine in 112 (81%), followed by lower respiratory tract in 10 (7%), and soft tissue in 5 (4%), and the majority (94; 68%) were mono-microbial. Most isolates were resistant to ampicillin (111;80%), cephalothin (106; 77%), amoxicillin/clavulanate (98; 71%), and cefazolin (95; 69%) but none to imipenem or ciprofloxacin.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>Hafnia alvei </it>was most commonly isolated as a mono-microbial etiology from the urinary tract in women from the community. This study highlights the importance of population-based studies in accurately defining the epidemiology of an infectious disease.</p>
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