Genomic Characterization of Clinical Extensively Drug-Resistant Acinetobacter pittii Isolates

Abstract

Carbapenem-resistant <i>Acinetobacter pittii</i> (CRAP) is a causative agent of nosocomial infections. This study aimed to characterize clinical isolates of CRAP from a tertiary hospital in Northeast Thailand. Six isolates were confirmed as extensively drug-resistant <i>Acinetobacter pittii</i> (XDRAP). The <i>bla</i>_NDM-1 gene was detected in three isolates, whereas <i>bla</i>_IMP-14 and <i>bla</i>_IMP-1 were detected in the others. Multilocus sequence typing with the Pasteur scheme revealed ST220 in two isolates, ST744 in two isolates, and ST63 and ST396 for the remaining two isolates, respectively. Genomic characterization revealed that six XDRAP genes contained antimicrobial resistance genes: ST63 (A436) and ST396 (A1) contained 10 antimicrobial resistance genes, ST220 (A984 and A864) and ST744 (A56 and A273) contained 9 and 8 antimicrobial resistance genes, respectively. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) phylogenetic tree revealed that the isolates A984 and A864 were closely related to <i>A. pittii</i> YB-45 (ST220) from China, while A436 was related to <i>A. pittii</i> WCHAP100020, also from China. A273 and A56 isolates (ST744) were clustered together; these isolates were closely related to strains 2014S07-126, AP43, and WCHAP005069, which were isolated from Taiwan and China. Strict implementation of infection control based upon the framework of epidemiological analyses is essential to prevent outbreaks and contain the spread of the pathogen. Continued surveillance and close monitoring with molecular epidemiological tools are needed.