Integron-associated imipenem resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from a regional hospital in Taiwan

S. Y. Liu, J. Y. Lin, C. Chu, L. H. Su, T. Y. Lin, C. H. Chiu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We investigated the genetic properties of imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii collected from a regional hospital in Taiwan. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis demonstrated that the isolates were genetically diverse. Polymerase chain reaction, DNA sequencing, and DNA-DNA hybridisation showed that the blaIMP-1 gene resided as a cassette in a plasmid-borne class 1 integron in two isolates. The majority of the resistant isolates were plasmid-less and carried no blaIMP, blaVIM or bla CFI genes, indicating that other uncharacterised metallo-β- lactamases or mechanisms other than enzyme production are involved in carbapenem resistance in this group of A. baumannii. We conclude that multidrug resistance of A. baumannii was a combined effect of lateral gene transfer and clonal spread of multiple resistant clones. Strict measures should be implemented to control the further spread of resistance.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)81-84
Number of pages4
JournalInternational Journal of Antimicrobial Agents
Volume27
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Acinetobacter baumannii
  • Imipenem resistance
  • Integron

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
  • Microbiology
  • Parasitology
  • Virology
  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Infectious Diseases

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