Multi-Drug Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii; A Neglected Nosocomial Pathogen in the Veterinary Field as a Source of Human Infection

Abstract

B ACKGROUND: One of the most important global warnings, according to the "World Health Organization (WHO)", is the danger of multi-drug resistant microorganisms represent to human health. This study is intended to detect the precise Acinetobacter baumannii contamination rate in veterinary necessities, the possible method of A. baumannii transmission to human patients, and the extent of antibiotic resistance in these bacteria. Methods: From various areas in the Duhok governorate, 106 swabs were collected. Conventional microbiological, cultural, real-time PCR and "Vitek 2 system" tests were used to diagnose and confirm the A baumannii isolates. The antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed by the standard disc diffusion method. ERIC PCR was used to determine the genetic similarity and DNA fingerprints of the retrieved isolates. Results: The total positive A. baumannii isolates were twenty-two samples (20.7%) ,18 (16.98%) were positive rom 65 samples from slaughter houses, 2 (1.88%) out of 20 swabs from a private veterinary clinic and 2(1.88%) out of 20 swabs from a governorate veterinary centers). Acinetobacter baumannii strains that were isolated from veterinary necessities were genetically linked to some A. baumannii strains isolated from human patients (from Duhok Research Renter). Moreover, none of the identified isolates were resistant to colistin and piperacillin, despite being multidrug resistant and demonstrating resistance to the most frequently tested antibiotics. Conclusion: The present findings suggest that A. baumannii resistance is potentially present in veterinary medicine, which requires a prompt and well-thought-out approach to contain the problem.