Molecular epidemiology and mechanisms of carbapenem resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii endemic in New York City.
Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as a serious nosocomial pathogen in certain areas. In Brooklyn, New York, citywide surveillance revealed that approximately 2 of every 3 isolates were resistant to carbapenem antibiotics. Genetic fingerprinting revealed that 2 strains accounted for 82% of these resistant isolates. Compared with carbapenem-susceptible isolates, carbapenem-resistant isolates had reduced expression of 47-, 44-, and 37-kDa outer-membrane proteins. No specific carbapenemase was found; however, carbapenem-resistant isolates expressed greater levels of a class C cephalosporinase. Although expression of penicillin-binding proteins varied among strains, no consistent pattern appeared to account for carbapenem resistance. An efflux pump, present in several strains, did not appear to contribute to carbapenem resistance. Clonal spread of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii has occurred in hospitals in Brooklyn. The preliminary findings for a small number of strains suggest that diminished production of outer-membrane porins, together with increased expression of a class C cephalosporinase, appear to be important factors leading to carbapenem resistance in this region.
Quale
John
J
Division of Infectious Diseases, State University of New York-Downstate, Brooklyn 11203, USA.
Bratu
Simona
S
Landman
David
D
Heddurshetti
Renuka
R
D000151:Acinetobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001692:Biological Transport; D015780:Carbapenems / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase / Q000032:analysis; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000032:analysis
D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D015780:Carbapenems; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase; D001618:beta-Lactamases