Antibacterial susceptibility patterns and cross-resistance of acinetobacter, isolated from hospitalized patients, Southern Iran

Abstract EN

Background : Acinetobacter is a multi-drug resistant and nosocomial pathogen.

The aim of this study was to determine antibacterial susceptibility patterns and cross-resistance of Acinetobacter species.

Methods : This study was conducted in Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz, Iran from October 2007 to September 2008.

Species identification was carried out by API E20.

Minimum inhibitory concentration and cross-resistance of the isolated strains to 12 antibiotics were determined by E-test method.

Results : Eighty eight isolates of Acinetobacter were collected from patients’ samples.

Acinetobacter baumannii was isolated most frequently (79 ; 89.8 %).

Colistin, imipenem and meropenem were found to be the three most effective antibiotics with 97.7 %, 77.3 % and 72.7 % activity against the isolates, respectively.

Multi-drug resistance was revealed among 2 to 11 antibiotics and high cross-resistance was also noticed.

Conclusion : To alleviate the situation, strict control measures and appropriate effective antibiotic therapy should be adopted to reduce hospital costs and related mortality.