Virulence between ESBL and non-ESBL producing isolates of Acinetobacter baumanii causing diabetic foot infections.

Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen associated commonly with healthcare-associated-infections and predominantly involved in diabetic foot infections with virulence factors determining pathogenicity especially in multidrug resistant strains. Therefore, it is of interest to compare virulence factors (pellicle formation and gelatinase activity) between Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and non-ESBL producing Acinetobacter baumannii isolates derived from diabetic foot ulcer infection (DFI). The isolates were identified using standard microbiological methods and antimicrobial susceptibility test was done by Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method. The double disk synergy test method (DDST) was used to detect ESBL production. The formation of pellicle at 37°C and gelatinase production indicated high virulence in ESBL producers. Colistin and polymyxin B were found to be the only options effective against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections.