Molecular Identification of OXA Carbapenemase-Encoding Genes in <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> Isolated from Patients in Critical Care in Egypt

<b><i>Background:</i></b> The emergence of carbapenem-resistant <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> (CRAB) in hospitals, particularly within critical care units, has garnered substantial global concern. CRAB commonly arises from the degradation by various ß-lactamases. <b><i>Objective</i></b>: We aimed to assess OXA-type carbapenemases in clinical isolates of <i>A. baumannii</i> obtained from an Egyptian tertiary care facility. <b><i>Patients and Methods:</i></b> This study examined 25 distinct <i>A. baumannii</i> strains collected from various clinical samples of patients in intensive care unit. Bacterial identification was conducted utilizing both traditional methods and the Vitek2 system. Antibiotic resistance profiles were assessed according to the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing standards using the Vitek2 Compact automated system. Additionally, multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to identify the presence of blaOXA23, blaOXA24, blaOXA51, and blaOXA58 carbapenemase genes. Colistin susceptibility was assessed utilizing the broth microdilution method. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Carbapenem resistance was identified in 100% of the studied isolates. The blaOXA51 gene was detected in all <i>A. baumannii</i> strains. The gene blaOXA23 was identified in 22 strains (88%), whereas blaOXA24 and blaOXA58 were present in 15 strains (60%). All isolates, except one, co-harbored two or more OXA encoding genes. Colistin resistance was detected in 4 of 25 strains (16%). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Our findings demonstrate the widespread distribution of CRAB isolates that co-harbor multiple carbapenemase-encoding genes. Molecular epidemiological studies and the surveillance of antibiotic resistance profiles may aid in identifying and tracing the origins of resistant bacteria, thereby limiting their spread.