title: Effects of meropenem exposure in persister cells of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii.
abstract: To evaluate the influence of meropenem in the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii (ACB) persister levels.
  
  
  
  Persister levels in planktonic and biofilm cultures from ACB isolates were evaluated after exposure to different meropenem concentrations.
  
  
  
  A high variability of persister fractions was observed among the isolates cultured under planktonic and biofilm conditions. Meropenem concentration did not influence persister fractions, even when far above the MIC. No correlation was found between persister levels and biofilm biomass.
  
  
  
  The magnitude of persister levels from ACB planktonic and, particularly, biofilm cultures exposed to meropenem was independent of the antibiotic concentration, dosing regimen and biofilm biomass. These findings, in a context of meropenem failure to treat chronic infections, strengthen the importance of understanding persister behavior.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Imunologia e Microbiologia, Faculdade de Biociências, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul - PUCRS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Stephanie Wagner
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Imunologia e Microbiologia, Faculdade de Biociências, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul - PUCRS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruna Kern
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Donamore
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia, Laboratório de Patologia Clínica, Hospital São Lucas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul - PUCRS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vany Elisa
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Pagnussatti
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Imunologia e Microbiologia, Faculdade de Biociências, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul - PUCRS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Alexandre Sanchez
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Imunologia e Microbiologia, Faculdade de Biociências, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul - PUCRS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sílvia Dias
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
mesh_terms: D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000187:drug effects*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D000077731:Meropenem; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D013845:Thienamycins; D000077731:Meropenem
keywords: carbapenems; chronic infections; persistence; therapeutic failure