Multicenter research of the molecular epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections

Abstract

Aim: Acinetobacter baumannii is an important pathogen causing concern around the world with an increasing antibiotic resistance. We aimed to provide epidemiological data and molecular differences between multidrug resistant A. baumannii isolates obtained from 7 different centers of Turkey. Material Metod: 166 multidrug-resistant A. baumannii strains were included in the study. All the isolates were tested for antibiotic susceptibility according to EUCAST criteria. İn order to molecularly confirm the carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii isolates, the specific blaOXA-51-like gene region was detected by PCR method. Possible phylogenetic relationship between multi-drug resistant isolates was investigated by using Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis method. Results: 166 carbapenem-resistant A.baumannii strains were evaluated by ApaI-PFGE method using CHEF-DRII electrophoresis system. A total of 51 clusters were grouped into 142 pulsotypes. 20 clusters had single members. 31 clusters had multiple members and identified with the capital letters of the alphabet such as A, B...and Z26. İt was observed that 40 PFGE profiles showed 100% related. Discussion: More intense contamination is in question in the provinces with a high number of patients. In 4 of the 7 different centers, more innocent results were obtained in terms of the number of samples, antibiotic resistance and clonal relationship when compared to other 3 centers. However, this may be caused by the low population zone and inadequate health services. Regional or multicenter studies are very limited. Thus, further studies involving more centers and larger populations are needed. Consequently, we conclude that the present study will shed light on future studies and create well literature as border region.