Biofilm production by clinical strains of Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from patients hospitalized in two tertiary care hospitals

FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2008 Jun;53(1):140-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-695X.2008.00403.x. Epub 2008 Apr 8.

Abstract

Microbial biofilms are considered as virulence factors. During the present study, 34 clinical strains of Acinetobacter baumannii, isolated from patients hospitalized in two tertiary care hospitals, were examined for biofilm formation. These strains showed high variability in biofilm formation. Furthermore, no relation could be found between the ability of biofilm production and molecular type, carbapenem resistance, site of isolation of the clinical strains of A. baumannii and disease severity. Interestingly, in two cases an increase in biofilm formation could be detected in A. baumannii isolates cultured from the same patient upon prolonged hospitalization.

MeSH terms

  • Acinetobacter Infections / microbiology*
  • Acinetobacter baumannii / drug effects
  • Acinetobacter baumannii / genetics
  • Acinetobacter baumannii / isolation & purification
  • Acinetobacter baumannii / physiology*
  • Biofilms / growth & development*
  • Carbapenems / pharmacology
  • Cross Infection / microbiology*
  • DNA, Bacterial / chemistry
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Carbapenems
  • DNA, Bacterial