Genomic epidemiology and phylodynamics of Acinetobacter baumannii bloodstream isolates in China
In recent decades, Acinetobacter baumannii has become a major global nosocomial pathogen, with bloodstream infections (BSIs) exhibiting mortality rates exceeding 60% and imposing substantial economic burdens. However, limited large-scale genomic epidemiology has hindered understanding of its population dynamics. Here, we analyzed 1506 non-repetitive BSI-causing A. baumannii isolates from 76 Chinese hospitals over a decade (2011-2021). We identified 149 sequence types (STs) and 101 K-locus types (KLs), revealing increased population diversity. International clone (IC) 2 accounted for 81.74% of isolates, with a notable shift in prevalent STs: ST208 increased while ST191 and ST195 declined, aligning with global trends. ST208 exhibited higher virulence, greater antibiotic resistance, enhanced desiccation tolerance, and more complex transmission patterns compared to ST191 and ST195. Its genomic plasticity drives its adaptation and spread. Using the high-resolution Oxford MLST scheme, this study uncovered greater diversity and genetic factors behind ST208's rise. A. baumannii is evolving from a low-virulence, multidrug-resistant pathogen to a more virulent one, highlighting the urgent need to address its growing threat. These findings have critical implications for infection control and public health policies.
Authors
- Mengru Chang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0853-7732)
- Tingting Xiao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3230-0919)
- Ping Shen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4677-6747)
- Qian Guo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1211-6436)
- Qixia Luo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9643-7914)
- Wei Yu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1174-596X)
- Yonghong Xiao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3322-2382)
- Haoyu Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1383-9406)
- Erjia Zhang
- Yunbo Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5843-1386)
- Xiaoqing Jiang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7475-1630)
- Jinru Ji (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1579-2250)
- Chaoqun Ying (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8599-3838)
- Zhiying Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2060-1597)
- Yingying Ma (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1267-0581)
- Yan Zhang
- Ping Lu
Institutions
- Wannan Medical College (CN)
- Qingdao University (CN)
- Ningbo University (CN)
- Fujian Medical University (CN)
- Binzhou Medical University (CN)
- Nanchang University (CN)
- Shandong University of Aeronautics (CN)
- Hunan Normal University (CN)
- Xuzhou Medical College (CN)
- Anhui Medical University (CN)
- Yichun University (CN)
- Huangshan University (CN)
- Henan University Huaihe Hospital and Huaihe Clinical Institute (CN)
- Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University (CN)
- Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital (CN)
- Second People's Hospital of Yunnan Province (CN)
- Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CN)
- Mudanjiang Medical University (CN)
- Wuhan Puai Hospital (CN)
- Suizhou Central Hospital (CN)
- Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of TCM (CN)
- Tianjin Tianhe Hospital (CN)
- The Fifth People's Hospital of Anyang (CN)
- Jiujiang First People's Hospital (CN)
- The Central Hospital of Xiao gan (CN)
- Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College (CN)
- Xi'an Medical University (CN)
- Xiaogan First People's Hospital (CN)
- Lishui Central Hospital (CN)
- Deyang Stomatological Hospital (CN)
- Gansu Provincial Hospital (CN)
- Shandong Provincial Hospital (CN)
- Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University (CN)
- 9th City Clinical Hospital (BY)
- Luohe Medical College (CN)
- Shengli Oilfield Central Hospital (CN)
- Fuyang Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital (CN)
- Lanzhou University Second Hospital (CN)
- The First People’s Hospital of Lianyungang (CN)
- Anhui Provincial Hospital (CN)
- General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region (CN)
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University (CN)
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University (CN)
- First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology (CN)
- First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University (CN)
- Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University (CN)
- Tengzhou Central People's Hospital (CN)
- Wuhan Third Hospital (CN)
- Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CN)
- The First People's Hospital of Tianmen (CN)
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College (CN)
- Third People's Hospital of Huzhou (CN)
- Shenzhen Luohu People's Hospital (CN)
- First People's Hospital of Nanning (CN)
- Jingzhou Central Hospital (CN)
- Central Hospital of Zibo (CN)
- Qujiang People's Hospital (CN)
- Zigong First People's Hospital (CN)
- Center for Life Sciences (CN)
- Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University (CN)
- Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (CN)
- Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University (CN)
- Anyang Tumor Hospital (CN)
- First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University (CN)
- Fuyang Second People's Hospital (CN)
- First People's Hospital of Jingzhou (CN)
- First Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University (CN)
- Lu'an First People's Hospital (CN)
- First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (CN)
- State Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases
- Tianjin Medical University (CN)
- Southern Medical University (CN)
- Putian University (CN)
- Zhejiang University (CN)
- Lanzhou University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-04-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58772-9
- Citations
- 23
- Primary Topic
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 13.60