The ubiquitous nature of Acinetobacter baumannii has made the Gram-negative, non-motile bacterium to be associated with hospital-acquired infection at the global level, and with respect to antimicrobial resistance, it has been categorized among the most dangerous multiple drug-resistant (MDR) pathogens globally and enlisted in the "priority 1: critical" pathogens list of the World Health Organization, existing in-hospital patients and environment. Many clinical manifestations such as pneumonia, and wound infection have posed a huge disease burden with massive economic loss. The infection is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. The burden of this hospital pathogen demands attention, especially with the surge in the resistant strains distribution. In the area of this study, distribution patterns have not extensively been studied therefore, the research focused on the distribution pattern of hospital isolated Acinetobacter baumannii from selected tertiary health facilities in Rivers State Nigeria. The observational study involved isolation and biochemical identification, as well as molecular assay, which was performed using standardized methods, was conducted in two main tertiary hospitals located in Port Harcourt metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria. Statistics were performed for percentage and frequency distribution. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare the difference in distribution at a 0.05 level of significance. Statistical Package for Social Science version 21 was used for the statistics.368 samples from two institutions; RSUTH 185 (50.3%) and UPTH 183 (49.7%). Females 187 (50.8%) were more compared to the males 181(49.2%) with a significant difference (p<0.05) in isolate distribution but no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) for location and sample. Also, sample distribution was uneven 59 (16.0%), 202 (54.9%), and 107 (29.1%) for aspirate, urine, and wound respectively. 2.4% was recorded in the preliminary investigation while a 75% positive rate was observed using the molecular method. Evidence of the presence of Acinetobacter baumannii in the hospital was established. Also, Acinetobacter baumanii was not isolated from the aspirate sample however, this is subject to further investigation with an increased sample size. Female subjects had a higher rate. The information obtained here is essential to guide therapeutics and the management of targeted clinical manifestation. Therefore, the study serves as surveillance of A. baumannii found in the selected region.

Acinetobacter species are aerobic gram-negative bacilli that can cause healthcare-associated infections and can survive for prolonged periods in the environment. Also on the hands of healthcare workers, infection due to Acinetobacter species is a major challenge within the health care facilities and the community in general due to their high drug resistance. The study was aimed at detecting multi drug resistance and multi antibiotics resistance index (MARI) of acinetobacter baumannii isolated from hospitals in Port Harcourt meteropolis in Rivers State, Nigeria. The cross sectional study sampled randomly; as urine and wound swab samples were collected from patients. Acinetobacter spp was isolated using standard microbiological methods. Identification of A. baumannii isolates were done using Phynotypic methods such as culture on Lead Acinetobacter medium and conventional biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was done by Kirby Bauer’s disk diffusion method under Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI, 2013) guide Suspect Acinetobacter species were further identified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Sanger sequence typing methods. The results of confirmatory sequence typing of isolates showed that 9 of suspect Acinetobacter spp were A. baumannii. The results of this finding showed presence of A. baumannii species resistant to conventional antibiotics. All isolates demonstrated.MDR and XDR. MARI was high. (>0.2) indicating MDR and high risk. This study established high rate of multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumanii.  There is need for improved sanitary working condition and proper patients’ management to reduce the spread of this health care associated infection as well as a Search for new therapeutic alternative and policies to control the use of antibiotics.

The increasing rate of Acinetobacter baumannii in recent time as a major pathogen associated with hospital acquired infections is burdensome. This has resulted to significant morbidity and mortality predominantly among the immunocompromised patients, prolonged hospitalization with increased cost. The global burden of Acinetobacter baumannii infections is still unclear as a result of inadequate comprehensive data particularly in developing countries such as the case in Africa. There are inadequate extensive works on the phylogency of Acinetobacter baumannii and the region of this study is not well represented. The cross-sectional hospital based study investigated the phylogency (evolutionary relationship) and antibiogram of Acinetobacter baunmanni isolated from Tertiary Health Institutions in Rivers State, Nigeria. Study included individuals within the study coverage and those outside the selected facilities were excluded. Ethical approval and informed written consent was obtained. Both primary and secondary data were used. Isolation and identification involved culturing, biochemical and molecular assay; were conducted sequentially. Statistical Package for Social Science version 21 was used to perform descriptive and inferential statistics at 0.05 level of significance. The study has proved the concept about the phylogency (evolutionary relationship) between Acinetobacter baumanii with Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter pneumonia. Antibiogram based on the minimum zone of inhibition CPX had the highest mean±SD 24.222±1.7845 whereas, CXM recorded least 6.478±7.7092. Cephalosporin and Tetracycline class of drugs appear to be more resistant while Fluoroquinolone, and Amioglycoside are sensitive. The researcher recommends strict antibiotic surveillance and prevention as well as control measures. Also, supplementary study involving molecular assay with large sample size is recommended and extensive study of the virulence genes.