Title | Endemic Acinetobacter baumannii in a New York hospital. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2011 |
Authors | Weisenberg SA, Schuetz AN, Alexander EL, Alexander EA, Eiss B, Behta M, Saiman L, Larone DH, Jenkins SG, Rhee KY |
Journal | PLoS One |
Volume | 6 |
Issue | 12 |
Pagination | e28566 |
Date Published | 2011 |
ISSN | 1932-6203 |
Keywords | Acinetobacter baumannii, Acinetobacter Infections, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Cross Infection, Endemic Diseases, Hospitals, Humans, Integrons, Metabolome, Molecular Epidemiology, New York City |
Abstract | BACKGROUND: Acinetobacter baumannii is an increasingly multidrug-resistant (MDR) cause of hospital-acquired infections, often associated with limited therapeutic options. We investigated A. baumannii isolates at a New York hospital to characterize genetic relatedness. METHODS: Thirty A. baumannii isolates from geographically-dispersed nursing units within the hospital were studied. Isolate relatedness was assessed by repetitive sequence polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR). The presence and characteristics of integrons were assessed by PCR. Metabolomic profiles of a subset of a prevalent strain isolates and sporadic isolates were characterized and compared. RESULTS: We detected a hospital-wide group of closely related carbapenem resistant MDR A. baumannii isolates. Compared with sporadic isolates, the prevalent strain isolates were more likely to be MDR (pā=ā0.001). Isolates from the prevalent strain carried a novel Class I integron sequence. Metabolomic profiles of selected prevalent strain isolates and sporadic isolates were similar. CONCLUSION: The A. baumannii population at our hospital represents a prevalent strain of related MDR isolates that contain a novel integron cassette. Prevalent strain and sporadic isolates did not segregate by metabolomic profiles. Further study of environmental, host, and bacterial factors associated with the persistence of prevalent endemic A. baumannii strains is needed to develop effective prevention strategies. |
DOI | 10.1371/journal.pone.0028566 |
Alternate Journal | PLoS One |
PubMed ID | 22180786 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC3236744 |
Grant List | KL2 RR024997 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States KL2RR024997 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States |