Journal of The Academy of Clinical Microbiologists

Register      Login

VOLUME 26 , ISSUE 2 ( July-December, 2024 ) > List of Articles

Original Article

A Comparison and Assessment of Different Phenotypic Methods for Biofilm Identification and Antimicrobial Correlation from Clinical Isolates of Acinetobacter

Manisha Kumari, Rajiv K Sharma

Keywords : Antimicrobial susceptibility, Bacterial pathogen, Targeted therapy

Citation Information : Kumari M, Sharma RK. A Comparison and Assessment of Different Phenotypic Methods for Biofilm Identification and Antimicrobial Correlation from Clinical Isolates of Acinetobacter. J Acad Clin Microbiol 2024; 26 (2):40-44.

DOI: 10.5005/jacm-11020-0010

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 17-01-2025

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2024; The Author(s).


Abstract

Introduction: Acinetobacter species are common in nature and can be isolated in noninfectious form from soil and freshwater samples, as well as in infectious or carrier stages from humans and animals. Because of its ease of survival and capacity to form biofilms on various implants and in the environment while being resistant to numerous antimicrobials, Acinetobacter is a highly effective opportunistic pathogen in healthcare environments. Acinetobacter species play a noteworthy role in healthcare-acquired infections. The bacteria have become successful hospital pathogens due to their multidrug resistance and ability to form biofilms, posing challenges to clinicians and microbiologists for management. Knowledge about the biofilm formation of Acinetobacter species, including the status of antimicrobial resistance, is crucial for optimizing therapy and infection control. Methods: This investigation comprised a variety of clinical samples required for bacterial culture and sensitivity testing in the clinical laboratory of the Department of Microbiology. Isolation, identification of microorganisms to the species level, antimicrobial susceptibility, and standard microbiological techniques were used for the detection of biofilm-producing Acinetobacter species. Results: A total of 500 isolates of Acinetobacter species were found from various clinical samples. Of these, 255 (51%) were identified as Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex (Acb complex), and 49% were identified as non-Acb complex by phenotypic methods. Biofilm production was detected in 185 (37%) isolates by the microtiter plate method. Biofilm formation on Congo red agar was observed in 12%, whereas 52% of strains were biofilm producers detected by the tube adherence method. The major species forming biofilms were from the Acb complex (77%). Additionally, 60% of the species were multidrug-resistant (MDR) with the capacity to create biofilms. Biofilm formers showed greater resistance to imipenem (66%). Conclusion: Acinetobacter is a nosocomial pathogen. Over the past 2 decades, Acinetobacter has emerged worldwide as a significant pathogen causing serious and sometimes fatal infections. The ability of this pathogen to infect hosts, form biofilms on medical devices, and acquire resistance to antibiotics is a significant concern for infectious disease specialists. Increased antimicrobial resistance has effectively limited many treatment options, raising concerns about the best therapeutic regimens. Improved surveillance for this organism is necessary at unit-specific, institutional, and national levels.


PDF Share
  1. Wong D, Nielsen TB, Bonomo RA, et al. Clinical and pathophysiological overview of Acinetobacter infections: a century of challenges. Clin Microbiol Rev 2017;30:409–430. DOI: 10.1128/CMR.00058-16
  2. Visca P, Seifert H, Towner KJ. Acinetobacter infection—an emerging threat to human health. IUBMB Life 2011;63(12):1048–1054. DOI: 10.1002/iub.534
  3. Asaad AM, Ansari S, Ajlan SE, et al. Epidemiology of biofilm producing Acinetobacter baumannii nosocomial isolates from a tertiary care hospital in Egypt: a cross-sectional study. Infect Drug Res 2021;14:709–717. DOI: 10.2147/IDR.S261939
  4. Zeighami H, Valadkhani F, Shapouri R, et al. Virulence characteristics of multidrug resistant biofilm forming Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from intensive care unit patients. BMC Infect Dis 2019;19:629. DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-4272-0
  5. Kishk R, Soliman N, Nemr N, et al. Prevalence of aminoglycoside resistance and aminoglycoside modifying enzymes in Acinetobacter baumannii among intensive care unit patients, Ismailia, Egypt. Infect Drug Res 2021;14:143–150. DOI: 10.2147/IDR.S290584
  6. CLSI. Performance standard for antimicrobial susceptibility testing; twenty-seven information supplement. CLSI document M100-S27. Wayne, PA: Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute; 2017.
  7. Winn WC, Koneman EW. Koneman's Color Atlas and Textbook of Diagnostic Microbiology. 6th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2006.
  8. Stepanovic S, Vukovic D, Hola V, et al. Quantification of biofilm in microtiter plates: overview of testing conditions and practical recommendations for assessment of biofilm production by staphylococci. APMIS 2007;115(8):891–899. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0463.2007.apm_630.x
  9. Gupta N, Gandham N, Jadhav S, et al. Isolation and identification of Acinetobacter species with special reference to antibiotic resistance. J Nat Sci Biol Med 2015;6(1):159–162. DOI: 10.4103/0976-9668.149116
  10. Siwakoti S, Subedi A, Sharma A, et al. Incidence and outcomes of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria infections in intensive care unit from Nepal— a prospective cohort study. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 2018;7:114. DOI: 10.1186/s13756-018-0404-3
  11. Shrestha M, Khanal B. Acinetobacter species: phenotypic characterization and antimicrobial resistance. J Nobel Medical College 2013;2(3):43–48. DOI: 10.3126/jonmc.v2i1.7675
  12. Al-Hadethi JSY., Turki AM. Antibiogram and biofilm-forming capacity of Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from Anbar hospitals. International Journal of Health Sciences 2022;6(S9):247–260. DOI: 10.53730/ijhs.v6nS9.12220
  13. Babapour E, Haddadi A, Mirnejad R, et al. Biofilm formation in clinical isolates of nosocomial Acinetobacter baumannii and its relationship with multidrug resistance. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 2016;6(6):528–533. DOI: 10.1016/j.apjtb.2016.04.006
  14. Pour NK, Dusane DH, Dhakephalkar PK, et al. Biofilm formation by Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from urinary tract infection and urinary catheters. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol 2011;62(3):328–338. DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-695X.2011.00818.x
  15. Greene C, Wu J, Rickard AH, et al. Evaluation of the ability of Acinetobacter baumannii to form biofilms on six different biomedical relevant surfaces. Lett Appl Microbiol 2016;63(4):233–239. DOI: 10.1111/lam.12627
  16. Chaudhary A, Routray A, Madhavan R. Evaluation of biofilm production in Acinetobacter baumannii with reference to imipenem resistance. Int J Sci Res 2017;7(12):732–737.
  17. Nahar A, Anwar S, Miah MR. Association of biofilm formation with antimicrobial resistance among the Acinetobacter species in a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh. J Med 2013;14:28–32. DOI: 10.3329/jom.v14i1.14533
  18. Bedenić B, Ladavac R, Vranić-Ladavac M, et al. False positive phenotypic detection of metallo-beta-lactamases in Acinetobacter baumannii. Acta Clin Croat 2019;58(1):113–118. DOI: 10.20471/acc.2019.58.01.15
  19. Ranjbar R, Farahani A. Study of genetic diversity, biofilm formation, and detection of carbapenemase, MBL, ESBL, and tetracycline resistance genes in multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from burn wound infections in Iran. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 2019;8:172. DOI: 10.1186/s13756-019-0612-5
  20. Mohajeri P, Farahani A, Feizabadi MM, et al. Clonal evolution multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Indian J Med Microbiol 2015;33(1):87–91. DOI: 10.4103/0255-0857.148390
  21. Mohajeri P, Sharbati S, Farahani A, et al. Evaluate the frequency distribution of nonadhesive virulence factors in carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from clinical samples in Kermanshah. J Nat Sci Biol Med 2016;7(1):58–61. DOI: 10.4103/0976-9668.175071
  22. Eghbalimoghadam M, Farahani A, Akbar FN, et al. Frequency of class 1 integron and genetic diversity of Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from medical centers in Kermanshah. J Nat Sci Biol Med 2017;8(2):193–198. DOI: 10.4103/0976-9668.210007
  23. Taraszkiewicz A, Fila G, Grinholc M, et al. Innovative strategies to overcome biofilm resistance. BioMed Res Int 2013;2013:150653. DOI: 10.1155/2013/150653
  24. Yang CH, Su PW, Moi SH, et al. Biofilm formation in Acinetobacter baumannii: genotype-phenotype correlation. Molecules 2019;24(10):1849. DOI: 10.3390/molecules24101849
  25. Gedefie A, Demsis W, Ashagrie M, et al. Acinetobacter baumannii biofilm formation and its role in disease pathogenesis: a review. Infect Drug Res 2021;14:3711–3719. DOI: 10.2147/IDR.S332051
  26. Colquhoun JM, Rather PN. Insights into mechanisms of biofilm formation in Acinetobacter baumannii and implications for uropathogenesis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020;10. DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00253
  27. Upmanyu K, Haq QM, Singh R. Factors mediating Acinetobacter baumannii biofilm formation: opportunities for developing therapeutics. Curr Res Microbial Sci 2022;3:100131. DOI: 10.1016/j.crmicr.2022.100131.
  28. Choudhary M, Shrivastava R, Vashistt J. Acinetobacter baumannii biofilm formation: association with antimicrobial resistance and prolonged survival under desiccation. Curr Microbiol 2022;79:361. DOI: 10.1007/s00284-022-03071-5
  29. Gaddy JA, Tomaras AP, Actis LA. The Acinetobacter baumannii 19606 OmpA protein plays a role in biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces and in the interaction of this pathogen with eukaryotic cells. Infect Immun 2009;77(8):3150–3160. DOI: 10.1128/iai.00096-09
  30. Kumari M, Bhattarai NR, Rai K, et al. Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter: detection of ESBL, MBL, blaNDM-1 genotype, and biofilm formation at a tertiary care hospital in eastern Nepal. Int J Microbiol 2022;2022:8168000. DOI: 10.1155/2022/8168000
  31. Rodríguez-Baño J, Martí S, Soto S, et al. Biofilm formation in Acinetobacter baumannii: associated features and clinical implications. Clin Microbiol Infect 2008;14(3):276–278. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2007.01916.x
  32. Sharma M, Sapkota J, Jha B, et al. Biofilm formation and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producer among Acinetobacter species isolated in a tertiary care hospital: a descriptive cross-sectional study. JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc 2019;57(220):424–428. DOI: 10.31729/jnma.4726
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.