Bacteremic nosocomial pneumonia caused by Acinetobacter baumannii and Acinetobacter nosocomialis: a single or two distinct clinical entities?

The phenotypically indistinguishable Acinetobacter baumannii and Acinetobacter nosocomialis have become leading pathogens causing nosocomial pneumonia in critically ill patients. A. baumannii and A. nosocomialis nosocomial pneumonias were grouped as a single clinical entity previously. This study aimed to determine whether they are the same or a different clinical entity. A total of 121 patients with A. baumannii and 131 with A. nosocomialis bacteremic nosocomial pneumonia were included during an 8-year period. Despite the similar Charlson co-morbidity scores at admission, patients with A. baumannii pneumonia were more likely to have abnormal haematological findings, lobar pneumonia, significantly higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores and higher frequency of shock at the onset of bacteraemia than those with A. nosocomialis pneumoni. A. baumannii isolates were resistant to more classes of antimicrobials, except colistin, and therefore the patients with A. baumannii pneumonia were more likely to receive inappropriate antimicrobial therapy. The 14-day mortality was significantly higher in patients with A. baumannii pneumonia (34.7% vs. 15.3%, p 0.001). A. baumannii was an independent risk factor for mortality (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.05–3.90; p 0.035) in the overall cohort after adjustment for other risk factors for death, including inappropriate antimicrobial therapy. The results demonstrated the difference in clinical presentation, microbial characteristics and outcomes between A. baumannii and A. nosocomialis nosocomial pneumonia, and supported that they are two distinct clinical entities.     

PCR-amplified 16S and 23S rDNA restriction analysis for the identification of Acinetobacter strains at the DNA group level

The genus Acinetobacter is phenotypically rather homogeneous, but genotypicaliy heterogeneous. In this study, a simple method based on restriction analysis of a PCR-amplrfied large fragment (4.5 kb) of most of the ribosomal operon (16S and 23S ribosomal genes and the spacer in-between) was investigated. Sixty-seven collection strains belonging to the 20 DNA groups proposed until 1993 were studied. Using the enzyme Sau3AI, 25 DNA profiles were obtained. Strains belonging to DNA groups 1, 3, 6, TU13 and TU15 showed two profiles each, and DNA groups 4, 5 and 7 showed profiles with variants showing less intensive additional bands. The remaining 12 groups showed 12 different profiles. The profiles obtained were DNA-group-specific except for one profile which was shared between the unnamed DNA group 3 and a rarely encountered genotypicaliy related DNA group. These two DNA groups could be separated by using the enzyme Hinf1. Twenty-five additional clinical isolates previously characterized by standard DNA-DNA hybridization were selected in a double-blind fashion for identification at the DNA group level to check the reliability of the assay. All strains were correctly identified at the DNA group level. PCR-amplified 16S and 23S rDNA restriction analysis is both an accurate and rapid method for the identification of Acinetobacter at the DNA group level.     

NLRP3 inflammasome mediates interleukin‐1β production in immune cells in response to Acinetobacter baumannii and contributes to pulmonary inflammation in mice

Acinetobacter baumannii is a multi‐drug resistant, Gram‐negative bacteria and infection with this organism is one of the major causes of mortality in intensive care units. Inflammasomes are multiprotein oligomers that include caspase‐1, and their activation is required for maturation of interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β). Inflammasome signalling is involved in host defences against various microbial infections, but the precise mechanism by which A. baumannii activates inflammasomes and the roles of relevant signals in host defence against pulmonary A. baumannii infection are unknown. Our results showed that NLRP3, ASC and caspase‐1, but not NLRC4, are required for A. baumannii‐induced production of IL‐1β in macrophages. An inhibitor assay revealed that various pathways, including P2X7R, K⁺ efflux, reactive oxygen species production and release of cathepsins, are involved in IL‐1β production in macrophages in response to A. baumannii. Interleukin‐1β production in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was impaired in NLRP3‐deficient and caspase‐1/11‐deficient mice infected with A. baumannii, compared with that in wild‐type (WT) mice. However, the bacterial loads in BAL fluid and lungs were comparable between WT and NLRP3‐deficient or caspase‐1/11‐deficient mice. The severity of lung pathology was reduced in NLRP3‐ deficient, caspase‐1/11‐ deficient and IL‐1‐receptor‐deficient mice, although the recruitment of immune cells and production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were not altered in these mice. These findings indicate that A. baumannii leads to the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, which mediates IL‐1β production and lung pathology.     

Comparison of one-tube multiplex PCR, automated ribotyping and intergenic spacer (ITS) sequencing for rapid identification of Acinetobacter baumannii

Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as a serious cause of nosocomial infections. Rapid identification of this pathogen is required so that appropriate therapy can be given and outbreaks controlled. This study evaluated a multiplex PCR and an automated ribotyping system for the rapid identification of Acinetobacter baumannii. In total, 22 different reference strains and 138 clinical isolates of Acinetobacter spp., identified by 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer (ITS) sequence analysis, were evaluated. All A. baumannii isolates (82 clinical isolates and one reference strain) were identified by the multiplex PCR method (specificity 100%). The sensitivity and specificity of the ribotyping system for identification of A. baumannii were 85.5% (71/83) and 93.5% (72/77), respectively. An additional 100 clinical isolates belonging to the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-A. baumannii complex were used to compare these two methods for identification of A. baumannii, and this comparison revealed a level of disagreement of 14% (14 isolates). The accuracy of the multiplex PCR was 100%, which was confirmed by sequence analysis of the ITS and recA gene of these isolates. Thus, the multiplex PCR method dramatically increased the efficiency and speed of A. baumannii identification.     

鲍氏不动杆菌致慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者肺部感染临床及耐药性分析

目的 探讨慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)患者肺部鲍氏不动杆菌感染的临床特点和耐药情况.方法 对78例COPD患者肺部鲍氏不动杆菌感染的临床表现及药敏情况进行回顾分析.结果 药物敏感性测定提示该菌对头孢哌酮/舒巴坦耐药率最低,为14.9%,其次为亚胺培南和美罗培南,分别是24.8%和28.2%;对氨苄西林、头孢他啶,头孢吡肟、哌拉西林、左氧氟沙星、莫西沙星、阿米卡星、氨曲南和替卡西林/克拉维酸有较高耐药率,为48.5%～74.8%.结论 COPD患者肺部鲍氏不动杆菌感染与年老体弱,广谱抗菌药物及激素应用、呼吸道侵入性操作及呼吸机使用有关,临床表现无特异性,耐药严重,病死率高,应注意预防.     

鲍曼不动杆菌临床分离株表型、基因型和耐药基因的对比研究

目的 对比研究鲍曼不动杆菌临床分离株基因型和编码耐药基因的差异,并分析其与临床多重耐药性的关系.方法 随机收集中南大学湘雅二医院2008年9月至2009年9月分离的77株鲍曼不动杆菌,采用WHO推荐的K-B法对鲍曼不动杆菌进行临床常见15种抗生素药物敏感试验,并对药敏谱进行分析.用随机扩增多态性DNA法(RAPD)技术进行基因分型.并利用PCR对β-内酰胺酶基因TEM-1、IMP、OXA-23、OXA-24、AmpC和氨基糖苷类修饰酶基因aac(3)-Ⅰ、aac(6')-Ⅰ、ant(3")-Ⅰ和16S rRNA甲基化基因armA、rmtA、rmtB进行扩增及序列分析.对比分析鲍曼不动杆菌耐药基因的携带情况,以及与基因型和耐药性的关系.结果 77株鲍曼不动杆菌中敏感菌株有31株,对5种或5种以上抗生素耐药的多重耐药菌株46株,内含全耐药菌株10株.RAPD技术将其分为17型,为A-G型,多重耐药株中E型为优势克隆株(17株),在重症监护病房(ICU)中流行最广,占47.1%(8/17).敏感株中各型散在分布.PCR扩增结果显示,多重耐药株和敏感株携带TEM-1、IMP、OXA-23、OXA-24、AmpC、aac(3)-Ⅰ、aac(6')-Ⅰ、ant(3")-Ⅰ和armA耐药基因的比率分别为95.7%、39.1%、84.8%、54.3%、87.0%、89.1%、84.8%、45.7%、63.0%和58.1%、9.7%、32.3%、48.4%、48.4%、29.0%、45.2%、12.9%、9.7%,未发现rmtA和rmtB基因阳性菌株.经x2检验,除OXA-24外,其余各耐药基因携带率比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).药敏分析提示携带以上耐药基因的鲍曼不动杆菌菌株的耐药率明显高于未携带该基因的菌株,其中对阿米卡星和庆大霉素耐药的菌株,其氨基糖苷类酶基因均阳性(34.8%),含所测的所有β-内酰胺酶基因的菌株均为全耐药株.结论 与临床分离的敏感鲍曼不动杆菌相比,多重耐药株耐药谱广,耐药率高,其携带β-内酰胺酶基因和氨基糖苷类酶基因种类多,分离率高,且同一克隆的多重耐药株可在病室内和病室间传播.     

Nosocomial spread of OXA-58-positive carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates in a paediatric hospital in Greece

Twelve non-repetitive Acinetobacter baumannii isolates producing the carbapenem-hydrolysing oxacillinase OXA-58 were recovered from patients in the same paediatric hospital in Athens, Greece, between November 2003 and May 2005. All isolates were clonally related, but the bla(OXA-58) gene was not always plasmid-located and there were variations in the DNA sequences surrounding the OXA-58 gene in different isolates. This study emphasises the importance of the bla(OXA-58) carbapenemase gene in conferring carbapenem resistance among A. baumannii isolates in Greece.     

Genotypic diversity and antibiotic susceptibility of Acinetobacter baumannii isolates in a Bulgarian hospital

A set of 18 Acinetobacter baumannii isolates, collected prospectively in a Bulgarian hospital during episodes of increased A. baumannii occurrence during 2000-2002, was investigated for genotypic diversity and antibiotic susceptibility. Four genotypes were identified by amplified fragment length polymorphism genomic fingerprinting, one of which (type 1) accounted for 13 isolates, indicating that a specific strain was predominant. The single isolate allocated to type 2 was identified to European clone I. All isolates were resistant to multiple antibiotics, but most retained susceptibility to tobramycin and colistin, and all except one were susceptible to imipenem.