title: [Phenotypic characterization of Acinetobacter baumannii isolates in a high-complexity healthcare institution in the city of Cali].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Phenotypic characterization of the Acinetobacter genus bacteria through biochemical and microscopic tests is possible. Studies have shown that the isolates from health-care associated infections show high resistance to first-line antibiotics.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the resistance patterns of the A. baumannii isolates obtained in a health care institution, the phenotypic characteristics of the isolates, and the possible resistance mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 28 reports of samples taken from patients hospitalized with infection by A. baumannii . Susceptibility testing for ceftazidime, cefepime, meropenem, amikacin, and ciprofloxacin was performed with the Vitek  automated system and the susceptible, intermediate, and resistant classification was based on the protocol established by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute for 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The highest percentage of isolates corresponded to males (53.6 %), to the infectology ward (28.5 %), and to the month of September (21.4 %); the most frequent sample site were endotracheal secretions (53.6 %). From the profile patterns for susceptibility to antibiotics used, 13 phylotypes were obtained.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acinetobacter baumannii is a pathogen resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents involved in outbreaks of health-care associated infections. The resistance profile patterns allow inferring that the possible resistance mechanisms present in the majority of the isolates are: Production of extended-spectrum b -lactamases, antibiotic modifying enzymes, and target site modification.
authors: Grupo de Investigación en Microbiología Molecular y Enfermedades Infecciosas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Libre-Seccional Cali.
authors: Alfredo
authors: A
authors: Prado
authors: Grupo de Investigación en Microbiología Molecular y Enfermedades Infecciosas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Libre-Seccional Cali.
authors: Nhora L
authors: NL
authors: Arias
authors: Departamento de Microbiología, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
authors: Mónica
authors: M
authors: Chávez
authors: Departamento de Microbiología, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
authors: Cristina E
authors: CE
authors: Cabrera
authors: Grupo de Investigación en Microbiología Molecular y Enfermedades Infecciosas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Libre-Seccional Cali.
authors: Romel F
authors: RF
authors: Gómez
mesh_terms: D000151:Acinetobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006786:Hospitals, Urban / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D055552:Infectious Disease Medicine; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007388:Internal Medicine; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics; D010641:Phenotype; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D012621:Seasons; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*