title: Population structure and antibiotic resistance of Acinetobacter DNA group 2 and 13TU isolates from hospitals in the UK.
abstract: A total of 287 Acinetobacter isolates belonging to DNA groups 2 (A. baumannii) and 13TU was collected consecutively from 46 hospitals and typed by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA fingerprinting with primers DAF-4 and ERIC-2. With a similarity coefficient of >/=72% as a cut-off value, 37 clusters of genotypically similar isolates (genotypes) were recognised. Four major clusters, found in 15, 12, 12 and 8 hospitals respectively, accounted for 42% of isolates, but only three of these predominant clusters were associated with outbreaks of infection in individual hospitals. Many of the isolates were resistant to multiple antibiotics, including expanded-spectrum beta-lactam agents, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones, but >98% remained susceptible to carbapenems and colistin. Overall, the study demonstrated that a heterogeneous population of Acinetobacter DNA group 2 and 13TU isolates, frequently showing multiple resistance to antibiotics, was causing infections in UK hospitals, and that four predominant genotypes appeared to have disseminated among geographically distinct locations.
authors.forename: Richard P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Spence
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Towner
authors.affiliation: Molecular Diagnostics and Typing Unit, Public Health Laboratory, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH and *Antibiotic Resistance Monitoring and Reference Laboratory, Central Public Health Laboratory, London NW9 5HT.
authors.forename: Caroline J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Henwood
authors.affiliation: Molecular Diagnostics and Typing Unit, Public Health Laboratory, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH and *Antibiotic Resistance Monitoring and Reference Laboratory, Central Public Health Laboratory, London NW9 5HT.
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: James
authors.affiliation: Molecular Diagnostics and Typing Unit, Public Health Laboratory, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH and *Antibiotic Resistance Monitoring and Reference Laboratory, Central Public Health Laboratory, London NW9 5HT.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Woodford
authors.affiliation: Molecular Diagnostics and Typing Unit, Public Health Laboratory, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH and *Antibiotic Resistance Monitoring and Reference Laboratory, Central Public Health Laboratory, London NW9 5HT.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Livermore
mesh_terms: D000150:Acinetobacter / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D000151:Acinetobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015780:Carbapenems / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003091:Colistin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015780:Carbapenems; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D003091:Colistin