Distribution of Blaoxa Genes in Acinetobacter Baumannii Strains: a Multicenter Study

Abstract

Acinetobacter baumannii is the most important agent of nosocomial infections within the Acinetobac-ter genus. This gram-negative coccobacillus is intrinsically resistant to many antibiotics used in antimicrobial therapy, and capable of developing resistance including carbapenems. The objective of this study was to develop a multiplex real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) kit for OXA subgroups in A.ba-umannii, and to investigate the distribution of OXA subgroups in A.baumannii strains isolated from geographically different regions of Turkey. A total of 834 A.baumannii clinical isolates collected from different state and university medical centers in 13 provinces (Afyonkarahisar, Ankara, Bolu, Elazig, Erzurum, Isparta, Istanbul, Kahramanmaras, Konya, Sakarya, Van) between 2008-2011, were included in the study. The isolates were identified by conventional methods and automated systems [Vitek2 (bioMeri-eux, ABD) and Phoenix (BD Diagnostic, MD)]. The susceptibility profiles of the isolates were studied with automated systems and standard disc diffusion method. All samples were subjected to qPCR to detect blaOXA-51-like, bla OXA-23-like, and blaOXA-58-like, genes. conventional PCR method was also used to detect blaOXA-24-like, gene. The resistance rates observed during the study period were as follows: 96.8% for amo-xicillin-clavulanate, 86.8% for ciprofloxacin, 74.7% for gentamicin, 71.7% for amikacin, 73.5% for ce-faperozone-sulbactam, 72.1% for imipenem and 73% for meropenem. Six hundred and two (72.2 %) isolates were resistant to both imipenem and meropenem. Colistin was found to be the most effective antibiotic against A. baumannii isolates with 100% susceptibility rate. All isolates were positive for blaOXA-51-like, gene, however blaOXA-24-like, gene could not be demonstrated in any isolate. Total positivity rates of bla OXA-23-like and blaOXA-58-like genes were found as 53.7% and 12.5%, respectively, while these rates were 74.4% and 17.3% in carbapenem-resistant isolates, respectively. Twenty-five isolates were positive for both blaOXA-23-like and blaOXA-58-like genes. All of the carbapenem-resistant isolates have OXA type genes with the exception of blaOXA-24-like gene. The positivity rates for bla OXA-23-like and blaOXA-58-like genes varied for each center. In addition, there was a decrease in the frequency of bla OXA-58-like gene, however both blaOXA-23-like gene and carbapenem resistance rates increased during the study period. In conclusion, high rates of resistance to carbapenems were also remarkable but Abaumannii strains keep on sensitivity to Colistin. Both blaOXA-23-like and blaOXA-58-like genes were shown to be widespread in carbapenem-resistant A.baumannii clinical isolates. However, bla OXA-23-like gene positive strains were increased throughout the study. Currently, multiplex qPCR is the best way for rapid diagnosis of resistant bacteria for prevention of hospital-acquired infections. The multiplex qPCR kit developed in this study could be useful for rapid diagnosis and identify the frequencies of blaOXA-23-like blaOXA-51-like and blaOXA-58-like genes in carbapenem-resistant A.baumannii clinical isolates.