Carbapenem resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii: the molecular epidemic features of an emerging problem in health
Raffaele Zarrilli1, Maria Giannouli, Federica Tomasone
1Department of Preventive Medical Sciences, Hygiene Section, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. rafzarri@unina.it
Abstract:
Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic gram-negative pathogen with increasing relevance in a variety of nosocomial infections especially among intensive-care-unit (ICU) patients. Carbapenems have been widely used to treat serious multidrug-resistant A. baumannii infections; however, incidences of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii are rising in several parts of the world and large and sustained outbreaks caused by such bacteria have been described. Carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii epidemics are sustained by clusters of highly similar strains that successfully spread among different cities and countries; their resistance phenotype is mainly due to the acquisition of carbapenem-hydrolyzing class D beta-lactamase (CHDL) genes flanked by insertion sequence (IS) elements. Multi-facility outbreaks can be also sustained by inter-hospital transfer of colonized patients. Here, we review the global epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii, with the emphasis on the molecular epidemiology and genetic characterization of carbapenem resistance in epidemic strains.
Related Concept Videos
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance
Development of Antibiotic Resistance
Atypical Pneumonia
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing
Acute Pyelonephritis II: Diagnostic Studies and Management

