title: Molecular investigation of an outbreak of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, with characterisation of class 1 integrons.
abstract: We investigated a multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii outbreak in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a tertiary care hospital in Greece over a 3-month period. Molecular typing of the outbreak isolates from 31 patients revealed that two distinct genotypes were involved. Nine isolates, belonging to both genotypes, were resistant to carbapenems. Samples from the ICU environment and from the hands of personnel were collected to identify possible contamination. Class 1 integrons of 3.1, 2.5 and 2.2 kb were amplified from the clinical and environmental isolates. The 3.1 kb integron carrying five gene cassettes was found for the first time in A. baumannii. The outbreak ceased after implementation of hygienic measures in the ICU, including complete cleaning and disinfection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Evangelismos Hospital, 45-47 Hipsilantou Str., 10676 Athens, Greece. ekraniot@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kraniotaki
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manganelli
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Platsouka
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grossato
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Paniara
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palù
mesh_terms: D000151:Acinetobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D032023:Integrons / Q000235:genetics*; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods