Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of Acinetobacter Isolated from Patients Admitted in ICUs in Mazandaran, Northern Iran.

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE Antibiotic resistance rate is increasing in Acinetobacter species, especially in Acinetobacter baumannii, as the most important pathogen of hospital and ICU . This research aimed to evaluate antibiotic resistant rate of Acinetobacter spp. isolated from patients admitted to ICUs in educational hospitals affiliated with Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. METHODS In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 50 Acinetobacter isolates were collected during 2013- 2014. After confirming Acinetobacter species, antibacterial sensitivity test was done using disc diffusion method and minimal inhibitor concentration (MIC) was evaluated by E-test in all isolates. RESULTS Disc diffusion method revealed that 100% of isolates were resistant to Amikacin and Cefepim and 96% were resistant to both Meropenem and Ciprofloxacin antibiotics, 6% were sensitive, 18% were intermediate and 76% were resistant to imipenem. Also, 84% of isolates were sensitive and 16% were resistant to colistin. In E-test method, 92% of isolates were sensitive and 8% were resistant to colistin. Moreover, an isolate was sensitive, one was intermediate and the remaining isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin, and 100% of isolates were resistant to other antibiotics in E-test. Over 96% of Acinetobacter isolates were resistant to the antibiotics frequently used in ICU (ciprofloxacin, meropenem, amikacin, and cefepim). Colistin was found as  the only appropriate antibiotic that could be used for patients in ICU. CONCLUSION We hope these results could change the attitude of physicians toward using antibiotics in ICUs and encourage them to follow antibiotic stewardship as the only effective strategy to somewhat control antibiotic resistances.