title: Isolation and identification of Acinetobacter species with special reference to antibiotic resistance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acinetobacter is clinically important pathogen with widespread resistance to various antibiotics. We assessed the incidence of Acinetobacter infection at a tertiary care hospital, analyze their resistance pattern and identify the production of extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and metallo β-lactamases (MBLs).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in tertiary care hospital, India over a period of 2 years. Acinetobacter species were isolated from various clinical samples received in Department of Microbiology. After identification, Acinetobacter isolates were speciated and antibiotic susceptibility was determined by the standard disc diffusion method. ESBL and MBL production was detected by the double disc synergy test and combined disc diffusion test respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 3298 infected samples, 111 (3.36%) were found to be Acinetobacter. The most predominant species was Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-A. baumannii (Acb) complex (72%). High incidence of resistance was recorded for piperacillin (55%), followed by ceftriaxone (46%) and ceftazidime (46%). Isolation rate and antibiotic resistance was higher in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) of the hospital. ESBL and MBL production was detected in 31.5% and 14.4% of the isolates respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high level of antibiotic resistance was observed in our study and maximum isolation rate of Acinetobacter was in the ICUs. Acb complex was the most predominant and most resistant species. The analysis of susceptibility pattern will be useful in understanding the epidemiology of this organism in our hospital setup, which will help in treating individual cases and controlling the spread of resistant isolates to other individuals.
authors: Department of Microbiology, Padmashree Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College and Research Center, Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
authors: Neetu
authors: N
authors: Gupta
authors: Department of Microbiology, Padmashree Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College and Research Center, Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
authors: Nageswari
authors: N
authors: Gandham
authors: Department of Microbiology, Padmashree Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College and Research Center, Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
authors: Savita
authors: S
authors: Jadhav
authors: Department of Microbiology, Padmashree Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College and Research Center, Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
authors: Ravindra Nath
authors: RN
authors: Mishra
keywords: Acb complex; Acinetobacter spp.; Antibiotic resistance; intensive care units