Detection of bla genes and identification of biofilm-producing capacity of Acinetobacter baumannii in a tertiary teaching hospital, Klaten, Indonesia.

Introduction: Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is commonly found as an agent of nosocomial infections and demonstrates a high antibiotic resistance due to its carbapenemase production. The objectives of this study were to explore the antibiotic resistance pattern, the presence of OXAs genes and the biofilm-producing capacity of A. baumannii isolated from clinical specimens.

Methods: Antibiotics susceptibility testing, detection of OXAs genes and the biofilm-producing capacity were performed using the Kirby Bauer method, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and adherence quantitative assays, respectively.

Results: A total of 80 A. baumannii isolates were mainly obtained from sputum and most of them were resistant to antibiotics. All A. baumannii carried bla gene, yet no bla and bla genes were detected. Fourteen (82.4%) of the 17 meropenem resistant isolates carried bla gene, but it was not found in meropenem sensitive isolates. In addition, sixty (75.0%) of 80 isolates were biofilm producers with 2 (2.5%), 16 (20.0%), and 42 (52.5%) isolates were identified as strong, moderate and weak biofilm producers, respectively.

Conclusion: Most of A. baumannii isolates had a high level of antibiotic resistance and had a capacity to produce biofilm.