Assessment of the Antimicrobial Resistance Spectrum and Identification of Extended-Spectrum ß-Lactamase (ESBL) in Acinetobacter Baumannii from Clinical Samples in Erbil City

Qadr, Sayran Sabr; Hamad, Pishtiwan Ahmed; Aziz, Sozan Hamashrif; Hamasalih, Rebwar Muhammad; Ahmed, Mohsin Ali

doi:10.22092/ari.2024.366860.3300

Assessment of the Antimicrobial Resistance Spectrum and Identification of Extended-Spectrum ß-Lactamase (ESBL) in Acinetobacter Baumannii from Clinical Samples in Erbil City

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Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

¹ Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Science, International University of Erbil, Erbil 44001, Iraq.

² Department of Biology, College of Education, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Iraq.

³ Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Shaqlawa Technical College, Erbil Polytechnic University, Erbil, Iraq.

⁴ Department of Animal Resources, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Iraq.

10.22092/ari.2024.366860.3300

Abstract

Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is a dangerous opportunistic pathogen causing various infections, particularly in healthcare settings, affecting immunocompromised individuals. It is a significant source of nosocomial infections due to its ability to produce extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and carbapenemase enzymes, which are a major concern for antibiotic resistance.
To investigate the significant occurrence of ESBL-producing A. baumannii in hospitalized individuals, a total of 250 clinical specimens were obtained. Samples were collected aseptically from patients and cultured on blood agar and MacConkey agar media. Identification of isolates was conducted using both conventional microbiological techniques and the automated VITEK 2 system. Duplicate isolates and specimens from colonization-prone sites, including throat and perianal areas, were excluded. Antimicrobial susceptibility and ESBL production were evaluated according to CLSI standards.
Out of 250 clinical specimens, 60 out of 250 (24%) had a culture-positive A. baumannii infection. Thirty out of sixty isolates (50%) had an A. baumannii infection that produced ESBL. 86.67% of the isolated bacteria had multidrug resistance overall (52/60). Amikacin had the greatest resistance rate among the 60 isolates (100%), whereas Tigecycline had the lowest resistance rate among just 10 isolates (16.67%). At the same time, the resistance rate was 0.00%, and the antibiotic that worked best against A. baumannii was Colistin. It was discovered that ESBL genes were correlated with antibiotic resistance, particularly with cephalosporin medicines.
In conclusion, the present study highlights the prevalence of ESBL-producing A. baumannii strains, emphasizing the need for cautious antibiotic use and systematic monitoring of resistance mechanisms. The emergence of new ESBL strains necessitates continuous surveillance and further research on other ESBL-associated genes.

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