Wide dissemination of GES-type carbapenemases in Acinetobacter baumannii isolates in Kuwait

Abstract

Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen that is an important source of nosocomial infections. Production of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) of the GES type in A. baumannii has been increasingly reported, and some of these GES-type enzymes possess some carbapenemase activity. Our aim was to analyze the resistance determinants and the clonal relationships of carbapenem-nonsusceptible A. baumannii clinical isolates recovered from hospitals in Kuwait. A total of 63 isolates were analyzed, and all were found to be positive for blaGES-type genes. One isolate harbored the blaGES-14 gene encoding an ESBL with significant carbapenemase activity, whereas the other isolates harbored the bla GES-11 ESBL gene. Thirty-three isolates coharbored the bla OXA-23 and blaGES-11 genes. Analyses of the genetic locations indicated that the blaGES-11/-14 genes were plasmid located. It is noteworthy that the blaOXA-23 and blaGES-11 genes were colocated onto a single plasmid. Nine different pulsotypes were observed among the 63 isolates. This study showed the emergence of GES-type ESBLs in A. baumannii in Kuwait, further suggesting that the Middle East region might be a reservoir for carbapenemase-producing A. baumannii. Copyright © 2013, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.