A SEARCH FOR ASSOCIATION BETWEEN BIOFILM STRENGTH AND SITES OF INFECTION CAUSED BY ACINETOBACTER BAUMANNII COMPLEX

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In the world of infectious diseases, a group of bacteria known as ESKAPE pathogens, are responsible for most of the life threatening multidrug resistant (MDR) and extensively drug resistant (XDR) infections worldwide. The ESKAPE pathogens comprise of Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter spp. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is isolate and identify Acinetobactor baumannii complex from clinical samples. Measure the biolm forming capacity of the isolates. Possible association of this biolm strength with the type of clinical sample from which they are isolated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The samples which were tested in the laboratory were the following: Sputum, End tracheal tube aspirates, Pus, Urine, Blood for culture, Central venous catheter tips & Cerebrospinal uid. Following culture media were taken: MaCconkey agar & Blood agar. The colonies suggestive of Acinetobacter baumannii were selected. On MaCconkey agar, non- pigmented NLF colonies with pink to light lavender hue; and on blood agar, opaque non-hemolytic colonies were obtained. Gram stains from selected colony showed gram negative coccobacilli. Hanging drop preparation showed non-motile bacteria. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS: We found maximum number of strong biolm producers were found among the isolates causing infection of CVC tips (70%). This was closely followed by ETtube isolates (69.5%). The isolates from blood stream, urine, and sputum samples showed all the three patterns, namely, no biolm producer, moderate biolm producer, and strong biolm producer. Our study showed interestingly, no strong biolm producer was found from pus samples, whereas from the CSF isolates no non-producer of biolm emerged. CONCLUSION: This study centers around strength or pattern of biolm formation by this bacteria. It was interesting to nd that there was a statistically signicant association between patterns of biolm produced by Acinetobacter baumannii and the various samples from which they are isolated. This made us to hint at a probable relation between biolm patterns and organotropism as an hypothesis. Only further investigations will tell if it can stand the test of time.