Phenotypic Cluster Analysis of Acinetobacter Species Isolated From Ventilator Associated Pneumonia During the First Wave Of COVID 19 in Surabaya, Indonesia

Introduction: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has been reported as epidemic in December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, People Republic of China. Hospitalized COVID-19 patients, especially with worse clinical appearance and on ventilator, need thorough diagnostic tests as COVID-19 patients tend to mimic bacterial infections. Positive blood culture in COVID-19 patients is more likely to be contaminants and hospital associated infections than primary co-infections. This research aims to phenotypically group data of Acinetobacter isolates associated with Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) using hierarchical clustering. Method: This is a descriptive study presenting collection of Acinetobacter culture data performed by Microbiology laboratory of a COVID-19 referral hospital from 26 March 2020- 31 February 2021. Hierarchical clustering were performed using statistical software. Results: Hierarchical clustering were performed to 50 VAP associated Acinetobacter isolates. There are 4 cluster clades showed in biochemistry dendrogram. Two dominant clusters 1A and 3A were found and both similar MIC pattern. Conclusion: Acinetobacter phenotype cluster 1A and 3A dominates VAP associated isolates. This method can be applied to facilities with limited resource setting.