Isolation, Characterization and Anti-Biofilm Activity of Bacteriophages Against Acinetobacter baumannii Biofilm Producer

The bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) causes serious human diseases. The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii has increased the need for alternative treatments. Bacteriophage therapy offers a promising alternative for MDR A. baumannii elimination. This study aimed to isolate, characterize, and identify lytic phage activity. A phage designated RKL was isolated from sewage water of Baghdad Medical City hospital as a possible agent for phage therapy to treat infections caused by A. baumannii. Based on transmission electron microscopy, phage RKL is a siphovirus from the Siphoviridae family of the Caudovirales order. The optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI) was at 10. A total of 54 different clinical isolates and host bacteria were tested by the VITEK®2 system for phenotypic identification and antimicrobial profile. The phage showed a narrow host spectrum by lysing only A. baumannii isolates (15/26). The results suggest that RKL phage has a potential impact in inhibiting MDR A. baumannii infection.