Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Acinetobacter Strains Isolated from Patients in the Intensive Care Unit: A Surveillance Study of Four Years

Abstract

Introduction: Acinetobacter species can cause health care-associated infections in patients who are treated in intensive care units of hospitals. The aim of this study was to determine the antibiotic resistance rates of Acinetobacter species that induce health care-associated infections among intensive care unit patients in a state hospital during the period 2008-2011. Materials and Methods: Clinical samples obtained from intensive care unit patients were cultured by regular methods. The identification and antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed using the BD Phoenix 100 system, BD Phoenix NMIC/ID-82 Id+ ADT (Becton Dickinson, Belgium). Results: During the study period a total of 320 Acinetobacter strains were isolated. Colistin and tigecycline were found to be the most effective antimicrobial agent against Acinetobacter species. When the resistance rates were compared between 2008 and 2011, significant increases were observed for imipenem, meropenem, ceftazidime, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and ampicillin- sulbactam; a significant decrease was observed for tobramycin. No statistically significant changes were observed for amikacin, cefepime, ceftriaxone, piperacillin-tazobactam, and gentamicin. Conclusion: High antibiotic resistance rates of Acinetobacter species induce health care-associated infections in intensive care unit patients. It is important to undertake bacteriologic surveillance in hospitals to ascertain the common microorganisms and their antibiotic resistance rates.