Incidence of drug resistance and expression of bla OXA-51 and adeA genes among Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from hospitalized patients at a government hospital in Irbid, Jordan.

Background and Objectives: Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen principally related with hospital-acquired infections. This study aimed to isolate and identify A. baumannii strains, investigate their resistance to various antibiotics, and characterize A. baumannii at the molecular level. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 samples were obtained from various hospital departments, including the intensive care unit (ICU), emergency room, kidney dialysis and surgery units. The incidence of drug resistance was studied using the Vitek 2 Compact system and further using molecular techniques such as polymerase chain reaction to analyze the genes responsible for resistance. Results: The study exhibited a high prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii isolates, especially in ICU patients. The males were the predominant group, accounting for 60% whereas females were 40%. The most frequent samples were from urine (43%) and skin (24%). Majority of samples were from the ICU (42%) and emergency departments (20%). The tested isolates exhibited the highest resistance (66%) to oxacillin, whereas the maximum sensitivity (52%) was recorded for Erythromycin. Molecular analysis revealed the occurrence of resistance genes bla OXA-23, bla OXA-24 , bla OXA-51, and bla OXA-58, which contribute to carbapenem resistance. Conclusion: The findings emphasize that A. baumannii remains a formidable nosocomial pathogen, and there is pressing requirement for enhanced infection control procedures and antibiotic stewardship. Through improved molecular observation, judicious use of antibiotics and improved infection control practices, healthcare providers can alleviate the impact of MDR A. baumannii infections and improve the prognosis for affected patients in Jordan and beyond.