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. 2019 Jul 17;19(1):629.
doi: 10.1186/s12879-019-4272-0.

Virulence characteristics of multidrug resistant biofilm forming Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from intensive care unit patients

Habib Zeighami  1 , Fatemeh Valadkhani  1 , Reza Shapouri  2 , Elham Samadi  1 , Fakhri Haghi  3
Affiliations

Virulence characteristics of multidrug resistant biofilm forming Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from intensive care unit patients

Habib Zeighami et al. BMC Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Nosocomial infections and persistence of multidrug resistant biofilm forming Acinetobacter baumannii in hospitals has made it as a serious problem in healthcare settings worldwide.

Methods: A total of 100 A. baumannii clinical isolates from immunocompromised patients hospitalized in ICU were investigated for biofilm formation, the presence of biofilm related genes (bap, ompA, csuE, fimH, epsA, blaPER-1, bfmS, ptk, pgaB, csgA, kpsMII), integron characterization and molecular typing based on REP-PCR.

Results: All isolates were resistant to three or more categories of antibiotics and considered as multidrug resistant (MDR). A total of 32 isolates were resistant to all tested antibiotics and 91% were extensively drug-resistance (XDR). All isolates were able to produce biofilm and 58% of isolates showed strong ability to biofilm formation. All strong biofilm forming A. baumannii isolates were XDR. All A. baumannii isolates carried at least one biofilm related gene. The most prevalent gene was csuE (100%), followed by pgaB (98%), epsA and ptk (95%), bfmS (92%) and ompA (81%). 98% of isolates carried more than 4 biofilm related genes, simultaneously. Class I integron (67%) was more frequent in comparison with class II (10%) (P < 0.05). The REP-PCR patterns were classified as 8 types (A-H) and 21 subtypes. The A1 (23%) and C1 (15%) clusters were the most prevalent among A. baumannii isolates (P < 0.05). According to the REP-PCR patterns, 23% of all isolates had a clonal relatedness.

Conclusion: Our study revealed the high frequency of biofilm forming XDR A. baumannii in ICU patients, with a high prevalence of biofilm related genes of csuE and pgaB. It seems that the appropriate surveillance and control measures are essential to prevent the emergence and transmission of XDR A. baumannii in our country.

Keywords: Acinetobacter baumannii; Biofilm; Integron; REP-PCR; Virulence factor.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
REP- PCR patterns identified among A. baumannii isolates examined in this study. Lane 1–7: clinical isolates, Lane M: DNA marker (100 bp)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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