Prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex in a Saudi Arabian hospital

Jaffar A Al-Tawfiq1, Thangiah X Mohandhas

  • 1Internal Medicine Services Division, Dhahran Health Center, Saudi Aramco Medical Services Organization, Saudi Aramco, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. jaffar.tawfiq@aramco.com

Insights

Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex isolates showed high resistance to common antibiotics like ampicillin and cefoxitin. Multidrug resistance was also prevalent, highlighting a significant challenge in treating infections caused by these bacteria.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • The Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex is a significant opportunistic pathogen.
  • Understanding antimicrobial resistance patterns is crucial for effective treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the antimicrobial resistance profiles of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex isolates.
  • To assess the prevalence of multidrug resistance within this bacterial group.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 476 Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex isolates.
  • Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed for various antibiotics.

Main Results:

  • High resistance rates were observed for ampicillin (86%), cefoxitin (89%), and nitrofurantoin (89%).
  • Resistance to imipenem was low (3%), while resistance to ticarcillin-clavulanic acid (16.5%), gentamicin (26%), and ceftazidime (38%) was moderate.
  • Multidrug resistance ranged from 14% to 35.8% among the isolates.

Conclusions:

  • The Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex exhibits significant resistance to several commonly used antibiotics.
  • The prevalence of multidrug resistance necessitates careful selection of antimicrobial agents for treating infections caused by these bacteria.

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