Molecular Study of Nodulation Division Genes and Integron Genes in Acinetobacter baumannii

Acinetobacter is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen, primarily associated with hospital-acquired infections. Antibiotic resistance in Acinetobacter is mainly mediated by efflux systems. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of adeA, adeI, adeJ, and adeY genes in Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) by PCR, assess the presence of integron genes by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), and relate the presence of these genes to antimicrobial resistance of the clinically isolated A. baumannii.

The study included identification of Acinetobacter spp. and antimicrobial antibiotic susceptibility. PCR was performed for adeA, adeI, adeJ, and adeY genes. Detection of Integron (Intl) system was performed by PCR followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

The frequency of Ade genes among isolates were 66%, 62%, 60%, and 2% for AdeJ, AdeI, AdeA, and AdeY genes, respectively. The intI gene was detected in 10% of the isolates. There was a statistically significant difference in resistance to amikacin, gentamicin, and tetracycline between A. baumanii positive. The most frequent association was between AdeJ, AdeA, and AdeI (31%).

Our study highlighted the high prevalence of AdeJ, AdeI, and AdeA in A. baumannii. Integron gene was detected with considerable frequency. There was a statistically significant association of these genes with resistance to aminoglycosides and tetracycline.