Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Identification of an epidemic strain ofAcinetobacter baumanii using electrophoretic typing methods

  • Published:
European Journal of Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Nosocomial infections due toAcinetobacter baumannii dramatically increased in a Lebanese medical center following an outbreak of hostilities in Lebanon in 1984. The incidence of infection caused by this organism has remained high in this institution, thus requiring the implementation of a strain typing system to aid in infection control. Three methods were investigated for their utility in differentiating among a representative group of 36 nosocomialAcinetobacter baumannii isolates obtained over a 10 month period from specimens of hospitalized patients. Isolates were typed by antibiogram analyses, plasmid fingerprinting, and total cell protein profiles. Only three distinct total cell protein profiles were detected, with one pattern accounting for 26 (72.2%) of the isolates. However, eight different plasmid profiles were observed, with 20 (55.5%) isolates having the same profile. Eleven distinct antibiograms were seen with the most prevalent pattern occuring in 21 isolates. Twenty of the 21 (95%) isolates with the common antibiogram also had the same plasmid profile and total protein profile (44.4% of total isolates). The combination of these three typing methods was useful in tracing the spread of these organisms in the medical center. The data obtained suggest the distribution of a common strain among at least six wards of this hospital.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Alexander M., Rahman M. andNoble W.C. (1988): A study of the value of electrophoretic and other techniques for typingAcinetobacter calcoaceticus. — J. Hosp. Inf.,12: 273–287.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Andrews H.J. (1986):Acinetobacter bacteriocin typing. — J. Hosp. Inf.,7: 169–175.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Bauman P. (1968): Isolation ofAcinetobacter from soil and water. — J. Bacteriol.96: 39–42.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Beck-Saque C.M., Jarvis W.R., Brook J.H., Culver D.H., Potts A., Gay E., Shotts B.W., Hill B., Anderson R.L. andWeinstein M.P. (1990): Epidemic bacteremia due toAcinetobacter baumanni in five intensive care units — Am. J. Epidemiol.132: 723–733.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bergogne-Berezin E., Joly-Guillou M.L. andVieu J.F. (1987): Epidemiology nosocomial infections due toAcinetobacter calcoaceticus. — J. Hosp. Inf.10: 105–113.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bergogne-Berezin E. andJoly-Guillou M.L. (1985): An underestimated nosocomial pathogen,Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. — J. Antimicrob. Chemo.16: 535–538.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Birnboin H.C. andDoly J. (1979): A rapid alkaline extraction procedure for screening recombinant plasmid DNA. — Nucl. Ac. Res.7: 1513–1523.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Bouvet P.J.M. andGrimont P.A.D. (1986): Taxonomy of the genusAcinetobacter with the recognition ofAcinetobacter baumanni sp. nov.,Acinetobacter haemolyticus sp. nov.,Acinetobacter Johnsonii sp. nov., andAcinetobacter calcoaceticus andAcinetobacter lwoffii. — Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol.36: 228–240.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Bouvet P.J.M., Jeanjean S., Vieu J-F. andDijkshoorn L. (1990): Species biotype and bacteriophage type determination compared with cell envelope protein profiles for typingAcinetobacter strains. — J. Clin. Microbiol.28: 170–172.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Bouvet P.J.M. andGrimont P.A.D. (1987): Identification and biotyping of clinical isolates ofAcinetobacter. — Ann. Microbiol. (Institut Pasteur).138: 569–578.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Das B.C. andAyliffe G.A.F. (1984): Serotyping ofAcinetobacter calcoaceticus. — J. Clin. Pathol.37: 1388–1391.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Dijkshoorn L., Wubbels J.L., Beunders A.J., Degener J.E., Boks A.L. andMichel M.F. (1989): Use of protein profiles to identifyAcinetobacter calcoaceticus in a respiratory care unit. — J. Clin. Pathol.42: 853–857.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Elliott J.A., Bosley G.S., Carlone G.M., Plitaykis B.D. andFacklam (1987): Separation ofHaemophilus influenzae type b subtypes by numerical analysis. — J. Clin. Microbiol.25: 1476–1480.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Farrar W.E. (1983): Molecular analysis of plasmids in epidemiologic investigation. — J. Inf. Dis.148: 1–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. French G.L., Casewell M.W., Roncoreoni A.J., Knight S. andPhilips I. (1980): A hospital outbreak of antibiotic-resistantAcinetobacter anitratus: epidemiology control. — J. Hosp. Inf.1: 125–131.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Gerner-Smidt P. (1989): Frequency of plasmids in strains ofAcinetobacter calcoaceticus. — J. Hosp. Inf.14: 23–28.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Getchell-White S.I., Donowitz L.G. andGroschel D.H.M. (1989): The inanimate environment of nosocomial bacteria: evidence for long survival ofAcinetobacter calcoaceticus. — Inf. Cont. and Hosp. Epidemiol.10: 402–407.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Glew R.H., Moellering R.C. andKunz L.J. (1977): Infections withAcinetobacter calcoaceticus (Herella vaginicola): Clinical and laboratories studies. — Med.56: 79–97.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Goodhart G.L., Abrutyn E., Watson R., Root R.K. andEgert J. (1977): Community-acquiredAcinetobacter calcoaceticus varanitratus pneumonia. — J. Am. Med. Assoc.238: 1516–1518.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Laemelli U.K. (1970): Cleavage of structural proteins during the assembly of the head of bacteriophage T4. — Nature (London).227: 680–685.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. LeMaistre A., Mortensen J., La Rocco M. andRobinson A. (1985): An outbreak of multiply resistantAcinetobacter anitratus in an intensive care unit. —Clin. Microbiol. Newslett.7: 102–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Mayer L.W. (1988): Use of plasmid profiles in epidemiologic surveillance of disease outbreaks and in tracing the transmission of antibiotic resistance. —Clin. Microbiol. Rev.1: 228–243.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Murray R.E. andMoellering R.C. (1979): Aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes among clinical isolates ofAcinetobacter calcoaceticus subsp.anitratus (Herella vaginicola): explanation for high-level aminoglycoside resistance. — Antimicrob. Ag. Chemo.1: 190–199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Ritucia P.A. andCunha B.A. (1983): Topics in clinical microbiology. — Inf. Cont.4: 226–229.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Rudin M.L., Michael J.R. andHuxley E.J. (1979): Community-acquiredAcinetobacter pneumonia. —Am. J. Med.7: 39–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Sambrock J., Fritsch E.F. andManiatis T. (1989): Molecular cloning. A laboratory manual. — Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. Cold Spring Harbor.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Shaberg D.R., Tompkins L.S. andFalkow S. (1981): Use of agarose gel electrophoresis of plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid to fingerprint gram-negative bacilli. J. Clin. Microbiol.13: 1105–1108.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Taplin D., Rebel G. andZaias N. (1963): The human skin as a source ofMima-Herella infections. — J. Am. Med. Ass.186: 952–955.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Towner K.J. andChopade B.A. (1987): Biotyping ofAcinetobacter calcoaceticus using the API 20 NE system. — J. Hosp. Inf. 10: 145–151.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Antimicrobic Investigations Branch, Hospital Infections Program, 30333, GA

    E. Gay, R. C. Cooksey & F. C. Tenover

  2. Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases-National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control Atlanta, 30333, GA

    G. M. Matar & J. A. Elliott

  3. American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

    W. M. Heneine, M. M. Uwaydah & R. M. Matossian

Authors
  1. G. M. Matar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. Gay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. C. Cooksey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. A. Elliott
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. W. M. Heneine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M. M. Uwaydah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. R. M. Matossian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. F. C. Tenover
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Matar, G.M., Gay, E., Cooksey, R.C. et al. Identification of an epidemic strain ofAcinetobacter baumanii using electrophoretic typing methods. Eur J Epidemiol 8, 9–14 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02427385

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02427385

Key words

Search

Navigation