Prevalence of Integron Classes in Acinetobacter baumannii Isolated from Patients in Diyala

Abstract Background: Acinetobacter baumannii is a worldwide threat that causes infections in hospital settings because of its multidrug resistance to widely available antibiotics. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the antimicrobial susceptibility of A. baumannii isolates from clinical specimens in Diyala, Iraq, and to investigate the prevalence of integrons and associated gene cassettes. Materials and Methods: The specimens came from patients at Iraq’s Diyala hospitals. Thirty distinct isolates were identified as A. baumannii . Both traditional procedures and the VITEK 2 system were used to identify isolates. By using the disc diffusion method, the bacterial antibiotic-resistant A. baumannii isolates were established. Results: All isolates of A. baumannii were resistant to (Piperacillin, Ceftazidime, Cefepime, Cefotaxime, Ceftriaxone, Ampicillin–sulbactam, Piperacillin–tazobactam, Ticarcillin–clavulanic acid, and Gentamicin) in percentage (100%), While resistance to Amikacin 96.7%, Imepenem and Meropenem 76.7% and finally to Ciprofloxacin 63.3%. Eeleven isolates (36.7%) were MDR, and nineteen isolates (63.3%) were XDR. PCR analysis proved that 19 (100%) of 19 extensively drug-resistant A. baumannii isolates were integrase positive, 10 (52.63%) had Class II integrons, and 16 (84.21%) of isolates harbored Class III integron. An analysis of Class I integron variable regions indicated the presence of three distinct segment dimensions, ranging in size from 750 to 3000 bp. A variety of genetic cassette records, including AddB , TrpA , Accd , aadA1 , and aadA2 , were found in the DNA of PCR-amplified Class II integrons. Conclusion: The acquired data strongly support the hypothesis that Class I integrons are associated with antibiotic resistance in these A . baumannii isolates.