Genotypic and phenotypic similarity of multiresistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates in the Czech Republic

Abstract

The diversity of 103 clinical isolates of the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii complex obtained between 1991 and 1997 from 17 Czech hospitals was studied by ribotyping, biotyping, plasmid profiling and antibiotic susceptibility testing. According to the EcoRI ribotypes, all but one of these isolates were identified to the DNA group level: 77 isolates were allocated to DNA group 2 (A. baumannii), 14 to DNA group 3, 10 to DNA group 13 sensu Tjernberg and Ursing and one to DNA group 1 (A. calcoaceticus). In total, 50 different EcoRI ribotypes and 10 biotypes were observed. Plasmids were found in 92% of the isolates and a high variability in plasmid profiles was found in isolates of the same DNA group. The combination of typing profiles allowed two predominant groups (termed A and B) to be distinguished among the A. baumannii isolates (37 and eight isolates, respectively) that shared a specific ribotype and were highly similar in other properties. These two groups comprised both sporadic and outbreak isolates and were found in most localities. Group A and B isolates were markedly more resistant to antibiotics than most of the remaining isolates, thus representing 85% of all multiresistant isolates. The features of groups A and B corresponded to those of two epidemic clones identified recently among hospital strains in north-western Europe.

High Isolation Frequency of <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> from Physical Therapy Departments of Geriatric Care Hospitals and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns of Isolated Pathogens

“…According to recent studies, A. baumannii have resistance to β-lactams, the extended spectrum cephalosporin, tobramycin, amikacin and fluoroquinolone [20][21][22] . Carbapenem antibiotics such as imipenem are useful treatments for Gram negative strains having resistance to β-lactams.…”

Comparison of Acinetobacter baumannii Isolates from United Kingdom Hospitals with Predominant Northern European Genotypes by Amplified-Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis

“…Four AFLP genotypes (clones) were identified, of which two genotypes, clones I and II, were responsible for most outbreakassociated infections in the countries examined (4). A further study in the Czech Republic published in 1999 also identified two predominant outbreak-associated clones, groups A and B, that corresponded to the two clones identified in other northern European countries (10).…”

“…AFLP cluster 7 contained strains belonging to European clone II, with the exception of isolate GNU1086, which was located in AFLP cluster 8. In previous studies, clone I and group A isolates were identified in four United Kingdom centers and were also identified in Belgium, the Czech Republic, and The Netherlands (4,10). Clone II and group B isolates were located in three United Kingdom centers and were also identified in Denmark, the Czech Republic, and The Netherlands (4,10).…”

“…In previous studies, clone I and group A isolates were identified in four United Kingdom centers and were also identified in Belgium, the Czech Republic, and The Netherlands (4,10). Clone II and group B isolates were located in three United Kingdom centers and were also identified in Denmark, the Czech Republic, and The Netherlands (4,10). In the present study, six different A. baumannii AFLP clusters were associated with outbreaks of infection in between one and nine centers (Table 1).…”

O-Antigen Diversity among Acinetobacter baumannii Strains from the Czech Republic and Northwestern Europe, as Determined by Lipopolysaccharide-Specific Monoclonal Antibodies

“…In a previous study, the pheno-and genotypic similarities among A. baumannii strains isolated in the Czech Republic were analyzed (12). Based on the results, these isolates could be classified into four groups: two relatively homogeneous groups of predominantly multiresistant strains (termed groups A and B) comprising both sporadic and outbreak-associated isolates, a heterogeneous group of other multiresistant strains, and a group of mainly susceptible strains (12).…”