Rapid molecular characterization of Acinetobacter baumannii clones with rep-PCR and evaluation of carbapenemase genes by new multiplex PCR in Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa.
Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRAB) is an increasing problem worldwide. Prevalence of carbapenem resistance in Acinetobacter spp. due to acquired carbapenemase genes is not known in Finland. The purpose of this study was to examine prevalence and clonal spread of multiresistant A. baumannii group species, and their carbapenemase genes. A total of 55 Acinetobacter isolates were evaluated with repetitive PCR (DiversiLab) to analyse clonality of isolates, in conjunction with antimicrobial susceptibility profile for ampicillin/sulbactam, colistin, imipenem, meropenem, rifampicin and tigecycline. In addition, a new real-time PCR assay, detecting most clinically important carbapenemase genes just in two multiplex reactions, was developed. The assay detects genes for KPC, VIM, IMP, GES-1/-10, OXA-48, NDM, GIM-1, SPM-1, IMI/NMC-A, SME, CMY-10, SFC-1, SIM-1, OXA-23-like, OXA-24/40-like, OXA-58 and ISAbaI-OXA-51-like junction, and allows confident detection of isolates harbouring acquired carbapenemase genes. There was a time-dependent, clonal spread of multiresistant A. baumannii strongly correlating with carbapenamase gene profile, at least in this geographically restricted study material. The new carbapenemase screening assay was able to detect all the genes correctly suggesting it might be suitable for epidemiologic screening purposes in clinical laboratories.
Division of Clinical Microbiology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Tanja
T
Pasanen
Division of Clinical Microbiology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Suvi
S
Koskela
Division of Clinical Microbiology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Sointu
S
Mero
Division of Clinical Microbiology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Eveliina
E
Tarkka
Division of Clinical Microbiology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Päivi
P
Tissari
Division of Clinical Microbiology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Martti
M
Vaara
Division of Clinical Microbiology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Juha
J
Kirveskari
D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002999:Clone Cells; D005387:Finland; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D006761:Hospitals; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D058889:Molecular Typing / Q000379:methods*; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013997:Time Factors; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000235:genetics*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001618:beta-Lactamases; C063912:carbapenemase; C108449:oxacillinase