The Prevalence of Acinetobacter baumannii strains carrying LPS and siderophore virulence genes isolated from clinical samples

Background &

Increasing antibiotic resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii isolates has become a major global concern today. The mechanism of the food supply through iron supply through Siderophores is one of the most important factors in the adaptation of bacteria to adverse conditions. The study of the frequency of the presence of Siderophore genes in clinical isolates      provides a high understanding of the mechanism of bacterial resistance. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the frequency of antibiotic resistance in isolates containing the Siderophore gene.Materials &

Clinical samples were collected from hospitalized patients includingrespiratory, wound, urinary, and blood samples. Biochemical tests were performed to isolate the    bacteria. A molecular sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was performed to confirm  Acinetobacter baumannii strains and to evaluate the presence of target genes. Microbial susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion method according to CLSI instructions and the relationship between microbial resistance and expression of Siderophore genes in isolates was investigated.

According to PCR results, out of 64 isolates identified by biochemical tests, 28 isolates (43.75%) were identified as Acinetobacter baumannii. All 28 isolated isolates (100%) had LPS genes and 15 isolates (53.57%) had Siderophore gene with 93.3% resistance to Carbapenems and 26.6% to Colistin sulfate and antibiotics. Were identified as XDR and MDR strains.

Antibiotic resistance and the prevalence of Siderophore and LPS genes in               Acinetobacter baumannii strains are worrisome and require infection control measures including management of antibiotics and rapid identification of resistant isolates.