Abstract:
OBJECTIVE To investigate the molecular epidemiological characteristics of non-Acinetobacter baumannii in a three-A hospital in Guangzhou from 2013 to 2021, including species distribution, drug resistance phenotype and genotype, characteristics of virulence gene and characteristics of genome structure.
METHODS A total of 46 clinical isolates of non-A. baumannii strains at Guangdong General Hospital from 2013 to 2021 were analyzed. Drug susceptibility testing was performed with the disk diffusion method, and whole-genome sequencing was employed to predict resistance genes and virulence genes, and conduct pan-genome analysis.
RESULTS Among the 46 non-A. baumannii strains, four species were identified, with Acinetobacter pittii (28 strains, 60.87%) and Acinetobacter nosocomialis (16 strains, 34.78%) being the predominant species. One strain each of Acinetobacter haemolyticus and Acinetobacter seifertii was detected (2.17% each). Non-A. baumannii strains exhibited the most prominent drug resistance to cefepime, with a resistance rate of 21.74%, alongside a high intermediate resistance rate. Genomic analysis revealed abundant resistance genes (e.g., blaOXA-417, blaNDM-1) and virulence genes (primarily involved in iron uptake and biofilm formation). Pan-genome analysis showed a low proportion of core genes (204), indicating significant genomic divergence among the four species.
CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the notable genetic diversity and reservoir of resistance genes in non-A. baumannii strains from this hospital, emphasizing the need for strengthening surveillance through molecular techniques to guide clinical infection prevention and control.