Horizontal transfer of OXA-23-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter species in intensive care units at an academic complex hospital, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

AbstractIntroduction: Carbapenemase production is an important mechanism of carbapenem resistance in Acinetobacter species. This study investigated the presence of the carbapenem-hydrolysing class D β–lactamase- encoding genes, blaOXA-23 and blaOXA-58, and their association with the spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter species in intensive care units at an academic hospital.Method: Forty-four MDR Acinetobacter species were confirmed using VITEK®2 and Epsilometer tests. The blaOXA-23 and blaOXA-58 genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in twenty-four selected isolates. The blaOXA-23 amplicons were sequenced and compared to the GenBank database. Genotypic relatedness of isolates was determined by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Clinical and laboratory data were analysed.Results: Among the twenty-four isolates, eighteen were carbapenem resistant and six were sensitive. The blaOXA-23 gene, but not blaOXA-58, was detected in the eighteen resistant strains. The blaOXA-23 am...