Acinetobacter baumanii: evolution of the antimicrobial resistance of strains isolated at a central military hospital

Abstract number: 1134_04_144

Amhis W., Naim M., Tiouit D., Chabani A.

Objectives:  

To evaluate the frequency and the antimicrobial resistance evolution of Acinetobacter baumanii isolated from different specimens in our laboratory from September 1st 2002 to august 31 2004.

Methods:  

From September 1st 2002 to august 31 2004 strains of Acinetobacter baumanii were isolated from different clinical samples coming from inpatients hospitalised in different departments of our hospital. The strains were identified with the biochemical galleries (API NE–Biomerieux) and their susceptibility to the antimicrobial agents evaluated by the disk diffusion method according to the NCCLS.

Results:  

121 strains of Acinetobacter baumanii were isolated during the 3 years: 11 in 2002, 85 in 2003(during this period we observed an epidemy in the ICU) and 25 in 2004.These results shown that the susceptibility to Ticarcillin, Piperacillin, Imipenem, Amikacin, and Gentamycin decreased noticeably during these 3 years, when it increased to Ceftazidim and Pefloxacine. The resistance was respectively during 2002–2004:

Conclusion:  

The strains of Acinetobacter baumanii isolated in our hospital during the period 2002–2004 in our hospital presented a high level of antimicrobial resistance which was often associated to a resistance to at least 3 antimicrobial agents. In some cases the strains were totally resistant and the treatment became problematical. The most notable resistance was to Imipenem which increased from 0% to 47% in 3 years. In front of this situation, hygiene measures have been taken in the ICU with the collaboration of the physicians and the director in the purpose to limit the diffusion of these strains. Moreover the use of the antimicrobial agents and especially Imipenem is controlled in our hospital and in the majority cases the prescription is based on the results of the susceptibility test.