Carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) has emerged as a
serious challenge causing nosocomial infection worldwide. We collected 24
Acinetobacter isolates from various clinical samples from patients in the intensive
care unit, Sohag University Hospital during the period from August 2013 to
February 2014. Identification of the Acinetobacter species was done by using API
20 E strips as a biochemical identification system. PCR was done to detect
blaOXA-51 like gene which is unique to A. baumannii. The isolates were tested for
antibiotic sensitivity by the disc diffusion method. Imipenem resistant isolates were
further tested for metallo- -lactamase (MBLs) production by the imipenem/EDTA
combined disk test (CDT). PCR was done for the detection of VIM-1 and IMP-1
genes coding for MBLs production. Using API 20E strips; 21 (87.5%) isolates were
identified as A. baumanii and 3 (12.5%) isolates were identified as A.heamolyticus.
A. baumannii blaOXA-51 like gene was detected in all the 21(87.5%) isolates. Of
them; 15 (71.4 %) isolates were imipenem resistant. MBLs were produced by 13
(86.7%) isolates of the 15 imipenem resistant A. baumannii isolates. Both MBLs
genes VIM-1 and IMP-1 were completely absent in all isolates. This is the first
investigation in our Hospital that has identified carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii
in our clinical samples. Colistin was very effective against such isolates.
Laboratories should routinely screen for MBLs production among A. baumannii
isolates as their prompt detection is necessary to prevent further dissemination.