FREQUENCY OF MDR ACINETOBACTER BAUMANNII ISOLATES IN INTENSIVE CARE UNITS (ICU) OF ISFAHAN HOSPITALS BY MOLECULAR METHOD AND THEIR ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE PATTERNS

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the most important pathogen in hospital acquired infections especially in intensive care units (ICUs). This opportunistic pathogen can be easily isolated from water, soil, and hospital facilities. A.baumannii as a nosocomial opportunistic pathogen is resistant to wide range of antibiotics. The aim of this study was to determine frequency and resistance patterns of A.baumannii isolated ICUs of Isfahan Hospitals.
Methods: During one year period (2012-2013), 350 specimens were collected from ICUs of Isfahan hospitals. The specimens were characterized as A .baumannii by conventional phenotypic and biochemical tests.The isolates were confirmed by PCR for OXA_51 like gene. Susceptibility of isolates was determined by standard disk diffusion method according to CLSI.
Findings: From 350 specimens, 43 isolates was Acinetobacter baumannii .The antimicrobial patterns of isolates showed that 53.5% of isolates were resistant to amikacin, 83.7% to tetracyclin, 86% to ceftazidime, 90.7% to trimetoprim sulfametoxazol, 93% to imipenem, cefepime, meropenem, ampicillin -Sulbactam. All isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin. Our findings showed that all of Acinetobacter, isolated from the ICU of Isfahan hospitals were MDR.
Conclusion: This study showed a high resistant of A.baumannii to a wide range of antimicrobial agent. It is necessary to adopt appropriate strategies to control the spread of the bacteria in care unit centers and wards.