PHENOTYPIC AND GENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE PATTERNS IN ACINETOBACTER BAUMANNII STRAINS ISOLATED IN A ROMANIAN HOSPITAL

A total of 633 strains of Acinetobacter baumannii were isolated from respiratory secretions (19%), blood (3.1%), urine (3.7%) and wounds secretions (4.3%). A. baumannii exhibited high resistance rates to ciprofloxacin (93.1%), amikacin (83.8%), ceftazidime (70.4%) and 21.8% were resistant to imipenem. The genotyping PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests performed of 35 strains confirmed the presence in these MBL-producing (metallo-s-lactamase) strains the blaIMP-1- (type carbapenemases) and blaVIM-2 (Verona integron-encoded metallo-s-lactamase) alleles and respectively OXA-type (oxacillinase group of s-lactamase) carbapenemases (blaOXA-24, blaOXA-51 and blaOXA-58). The PCR amplification has highlighted this in 60% of these strains the presence of 2.2kpb amplicons characteristic for class 1 integrons.These genetic features are accounting for the epidemic potential of multiresistant clones of A. baumannii circulating in hospitals. Rezumat Au fost izolate 633 tulpini de Acinetobacter baumannii din secreţii traheale (19%), sânge (3,1%), urina (3,7%), secreţii de plagă (4,3%). A. baumannii prezintă inaltă rezistenţă la ciprofloxacin (93,1%), amikacin (83,8%), cephtazidime (70,4%) si 21,8% rezistenţă la imipenem. Genotiparea prin PCR a 35 tulpini a confirmat prezenţa in aceste tulpini producatoare de MBL (metal s-lactamaze), a alelelor blaIMP-1- si blaVIM-2, respectiv a carbapenemazelor de tip OXA (oxacilinaze) - blaOXA-24, blaOXA-51 si blaOXA-58. Amplificarea prin PCR a evidenţiat la 60% dintre tulpini a ampliconilor