Carbapenems resistance of Acinetobacter spp strains isolated from wound swabs during 2009-2010

Introduction. Acinetobacter spp has become an important cause of nosocomial infections due to its great ability to survive and spread in a hospital setting and to develop resistance to many antibiotics. The aim of this study was to examine the resistance to carbapenems and other commonly used antibiotics in strains of Acinetobacter isolated from wound swabs. Material and Methods. In the Laboratories of Microbiology Center at the Institute for Public Health in Novi Sad wound swabs were taken from the patients hospitalized at the Institutes and Departments of the Clinical Center of Vojvodina in Novi Sad. A total of 271 Acinetobacter spp strains were tested to susceptibility on carbapenems and other most commonly used antibiotics by disk diffusion method according to the recommendation of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Results and Discussion. Acinetobacter spp (271 isolates) developed resistance to imipenem and meropenem (67.4% and 64.4%). The resistance to both cephalosporins III and IV generation and ciprofloxacin was 100%. The resistance to ampicillin-sulbactam was 71.4%. Conclusion. Our results show high resistance to carbapenems in Acinetobacter spp strains isolated from wound swabs. These facts suggest the need for continuous monitoring of susceptibility in order to take adequate measures to prevent and control spreading of resistant strains.