Detection of Integrons in Acinetobacter Baumannii Strains Isolated from the Nosocomial Infections of Ahvaz City and their Relation with the Resistance Pattern

Background and Aims: Acinetobacter baumannii is regarded as an important nosocomial pathogen around the world, especially in the intensive care unit that today seems to be resistant to the most antibiotics. Therefore, this study aimed to trace classes 1, 2, and 3 integrin in the isolates resistant to Acinetobacter baumannii. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, Acinetobacter baumannii of 67 patients in Ahvaz hospitals were all isolated and their antibiotic resistance pattern was determined by the disk diffusion. The presence of genes coding for antibiotic resistance as well as integrons (class 1, 2 and 3) were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction method. Results: Out of 67 isolates, the most resistance was observed for the antibiotic tetracycline (89.5%) and the most sensitivity to antibiotic was reported for chloramphenicol, meropenem and nitrofurantoin (2.9%). The distribution of dfrA1, sul1, aac(3)-IV, tet(B), tet(A), aadA1, blaCITM, vim, qnr, blaSHV, sim, Oxa- 24-like, Oxa-51-like, Oxa-58-like, Oxa-23-like, imp, cmlA and cat1 were 42 (62.6%), 40 (59.7%), 36 (53.7%), 34 (50.7%), 31 (46.2%), 17 (25.3%), 17 (25.3%), 16 (23.8%), 11 (16.4%), 11 (16.4%), 8 (11.9%), 5 (7.4%), 5 (7.4%), 4 (5.9%), (5.9%), 4 (5.9%), 2 (2.9%), and 1 (1.4%) ,respectively. Moreover, frequency of class 1, 2 and 3 integrons was 67 (100%), 22 (32.8%), and 3 (4.4%) ,respectively. Conclusions: High prevalence of integrons among Acinetobater baumannii isolated strains in Ahvaz hospitals indicate the importance role of integrons in multidrug resistance in this bacteria. Therefore, unnecessary use of antibiotics are recommended to be avoided.