The ability of biofilm formation in clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii belonging to two different European clones causing outbreaks in the Split University Hospital, Croatia

摘要

Acinetobacter baumannii is an important opportunistic pathogen that is rapidly evolving towards multidrug resistance and is involved in nosocomial infections, especially in intensive-care units. Nosocomial A. baumannii infections mostly result in ventilator-associated pneumonia, bloodstream infection, and wound and urinary catheter infections in critically ill patients.1 These bacteria have the remarkable ability to survive and spread in the hospital environment (encapsulated strains survive for more than 4 months on PVC, ceramics, rubber, and steel) and to rapidly acquire resistance determinants to a wide range of antibacterial agents. The production of biofilm may explain how A. baumannii can survive in different types of conditions in the hospitals, including catheters and respiratory tubes. Until the 1970s, most isolates were susceptible to a wide range of antibiotics. The emergence in resistance trends arises in extraordinary ability to develop resistance to even the most potent antimicrobial compounds including carbapenems.