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Dissemination of class I integron in Acinetobacter baumliannii isolated from ventilator-associated pneumonia patients

Suntariya Sirichot1, Pornphan Diraphat, Fuangfa Utrarachkij

  • 1Faculty of Graduate Studies, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health
|June 29, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, a common cause of hospital infections, frequently carries integrons. Class I integrons were prevalent in ventilator-associated pneumonia patients and hospital environments, correlating with high antibiotic resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii is a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections.
  • Its prevalence is a significant concern in hospital settings, particularly in Thailand.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To detect integrons in Acinetobacter baumannii isolates from patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and their hospital environment.
  • To investigate the association between integrons and antibiotic resistance patterns.

Main Methods:

  • A total of 96 Acinetobacter baumannii isolates were collected from VAP patients and environmental samples.
  • Integrase genes were detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  • Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method.

Main Results:

  • Integrase genes were found in 46 isolates; class I and class II integrons were detected in 43 and 3 isolates, respectively.
  • Integron-positive rates were 27/52 in clinical isolates and 19/44 in environmental isolates.
  • A significant increase in integron-positive Acinetobacter baumannii from VAP patients was observed over the study period (25% to 83%).
  • Most integron-positive isolates (91%) exhibited resistance to at least six antibiotics, with 72% of class I integron-positive isolates being imipenem-resistant.

Conclusions:

  • Class I integron-positive Acinetobacter baumannii has disseminated among VAP patients and the hospital environment.
  • The hospital environment may serve as a reservoir for drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.
  • The presence of integrons is strongly linked to multidrug resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii.

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