The Molecular Typing of Extensively Drug Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Clinical Isolates Using Arbitrarily Primed PCR (AP-PCR)

Abstract

     The genotypic analysis of the strains can provide information to evaluate the genetic links between strains and epidemiological investigations, and it is critical for tracking their circulation in various geographic regions. The goal of this study was to detect genetic similarities and differences between clinical extensively drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates from different hospitals in Diyala/Iraq by using Arbitrarily-PCR technique. This study was carried out during the period between October 2022 and March 2023. Out of 200 specimens, 30 isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii were recovered.Identification of isolates was carried out by conventional methods as well as by VITEK 2 compact system. Antibiotic resistance of A. baumannii isolates was determined by disc diffusion method. All A. baumannii isolates were resistance to ( Piperacillin, Ceftazidime, Cefepime, Cefotaxime, Ceftriaxone, Ampicillin–sulbactam, Piperacillin–sulbactam, Ticarcillin–clavulanic acid, Gentamicin, Amikacin) in percentage (100%) While resistance to  Imepenem and Meropenem 76.7%, Levofloxacin 66.7% and finally to Ciprofloxacin 63.3%, eleven(11) isolates (36.7%) were MDR, and nineteen (19) isolates (63.3%) were XDR . The genetic variability of 19 extensively drug resistant A. baumannii strains were investigated with the AP-PCR method, the genetic fingerprint 14 bands with molecular weights ranging from (300-4000) bp. AP-PCR typing showed a total of 19 XDR-A. baumannii isolates revealed 13 different clones with 90% similarity cutoff value include 6 groups of genotypes and 7 unique isolates. The present study concluded by demonstrating that the AP-PCR approach is a reliable, simple, quick, and cost-effective tool for examining the genetic diversity of A. baumannii isolates.