Title : The burden and virulence potential of multi-drug resistant acinetobacter baumannii isolates from COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit
Abstract:
Since March 2020, when the WHO declared the COVID-19 pandemic, many patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 needed to be admitted to the Intensive care unit (ICU), and those with severe form of the disease had to be supported with mechanical ventilation. Although mechanical ventilation could be lifesaving support for the COVID-19 patients, it represents high risk factor for Acinetobacter baumannii superinfection in already highly immunocompromised patients. Within this study, 64 A. baumannii isolates were collected from COVID-19 patients during the period from December 2020 to February 2021, from the ICU of General Hospital “Dr Laza K. Lazarevi?” Šabac, Serbia. The goal pf this study was to determine if clonal distribution of A. baumannii isolates happened within ICU. The genomes of 4 A. baumannii isolates, representatives of PFGE groups with different DNA patterns, were sequenced in order to classify MLST groups and analyze virulence characteristics of recovered isolates. All 4 genomes are publicly available in NCBI database, as well as 16S rRNA gene sequences of all isolates (n=64). Mucin binding ability, biofilm formation, gelatinase assays and motility were determined for all tested isolates and results revealed that isolates recovere from male patients had higher virulence potential comparing to isolates originated from female patients. All tested A. baumannii isolates (n=64) were sensitive to colistin, while resistant to meropenem, imipenem, gentamicin, tobramycin and levofloxacin according to the broth microdilution method and MDR phenotype was confirmed.
Audience Take Away:
- The audience will be able to understand and prevent clonal distribution of A. baumannii of nosocomial origin among COVID-19 patients on mechanical ventilation. Besides, audience will have insight into antimicrobial resistance and treatment options of infections caused by A. baumannii in COVID-19 patients.
- This presentation will contribute to arise awareness of disinfection and prevention measures to combat nosocomial infections. Also, the participants will have information which therapeutic options are possible.
- Participants will better understand the clonal distribution of A. baumannii among COVID-19 patients, virulence characteristics and virulence potential of A. baumannii isolates, comparison of virulence in male and female patients, mucin binding ability of A. baumannii isolates as important predictor for lung infection and multidrug resistant profile of isolates.
- This research is beneficial for clinicians, other researchers and academia as provide better understanding of virulence characteristics of important nosocomial pathogen Acinteobacter baumannii. This will provide the awareness of importance of rationale use of antibiotics during COVID-19 pandemic and prevention measures within hospitals. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report and study from Serbian hospital.
