RESUMO
Acinetobacter is frequently isolated in nosocomial infections and is especially prevalent in intensive care units, where sporadic cases as well as outbreaks and endemic occurrence are common. Acinetobacter infections are serious and difficult to treat owing to their ability to acquire resistance to many of the most commonly used drugs
Aim of work: to evaluate the role of Acinetobacter spp. as nosocomial pathogens in Zagazig University hospitals including methods of identification, the isolation rate from clinical and environmental samples and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns
Subjects and Methods: the study included 333 samples isolated from 273 hospitalized patients, 10 health care workers and 50 environmental samples. Identification of isolates by conventional methods as well as PCR detection of bla OXA-51-like Carbapenems gene was performed. Susceptibility patterns of Acinetobacter isolates to antibiotics were determined
Results: forty two [1 2.6%] Acinetobacter isolates were detected. Out of 273different clinical specimens and JO health- care staff examined 29 [10.6%] and 2 [20%] Acinetobacter baumannii were isolated respectively. Out of 50 different environmental specimens, 11 Acinetobacter strains [JO [90.5%] A. baumannii and I [9.5%] A. haemolyticus] were isolated. All isolates A. baumannii were positive for the of bla OXA 51-like gene. There was complete matching between conventional methods and PCR. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of all 42 Acinetobacter isolates identified· a majority of multi-drug resistant isolates. Conclusion: PCR is recommended for identification of Acinetobacter baumannii in epidemiological studies and research work because conventional methods cannot differentiate between Acinetobacter baumannii an4 some strains of DNA group 13 phenotypically. The incidence of multidrug resistant Acinetobacter isolates is high. So, antibiotic policy for empirical administration of antibiotics is recommended depending upon the results of antimicrobial culture and sensitivity testing. Strict adherence to infection control measures should be practiced