Bacterium resistant to five groups of antibiotics discovered
UN/DICYT Acinetobacter Baumannii was initially considered to have low clinical value, but has now been isolated from healthcare related environments. This microorganism is regularly found in soil; however it may cause severe infections in vulnerable people which generally occur in intensive care and neonatal units. Infections produced by this bacterium are linked to healthcare treatments as they are usually contracted in healthcare centers.
Researchers of the UNal Biotechnology Institute’ Bioinformatics and Molecular Epidemiology Research Group are currently working on genome analysis, including genetic elements such as resistome (antibiotic resistance genes) and infectome (bacteria which enter the organism, invade and produce infections).
As stated by Professor Emiliano Barreto, who says that the issue is not exclusively Colombian but also occurs around the world. Furthermore he says that when the appropriate conditions for antibody, infection and patient treatments are not present, resistant microorganisms could make their appearance.
“The real issue is that the bacterium rapidly reproduces and can cause death to the patient or produce long-term clinical stays, increasing healthcare costs,” said Barreto.
Acinetobacter baumannii in clinical intensive care units can produced grave infections such as pneumonia associated to mechanical breathing, urinary tract infection, meningitis and wound infections.
“Something similar occurs with newborns because their immune system has not reached its full developmental stage. Newborns are patients which are immunosuppressed and when respirators or cannulas are handled it makes them more susceptible to infections, “said Barreto.
Researchers headed by Professors Barreto and José Ramón Mantilla analyzed 190 A. baumannii samples from four hospitals in Bogotá and one from Neiva. By using molecular biology methods, such as high-yield sequencing they discovered resistant variations of certain antibiotics to Acinetobacter baumannii.
According to the results this bacterium is resistant to at least five groups of antibiotics, reducing maneuverability of using new drugs.
From the molecular standpoint they discovered some genetic elements which help breakdown antibodies such as ß-lactam (including penicillin) and others which do not allow the antibiotic to fit where it needs to exercise its functions.
Professor Barreto says that this information contributes to other research projects to follow-through with these microorganisms. They need to compare and analyze several bacteria of this type to assess if the bacterium discovered in Colombia is more or less dangerous and how dispersion occurred.
Furthermore this will help other agencies such as Health Secretaries or the Ministry of Health and Social Protection to control spread of antibiotic resistance and prevent and control infections.
“Along with Acinetobacter baumannii there are other bacteria which are also present in healthcare environments. Microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and some strains of Escherichia coli, amongst others,” said the Director for the Molecular Epidemiology Group José Ramón Mantilla.
These microorganisms, as Acinetobacter baumannii, are resistant to several antibiotics, therefore infections caused by these microorganisms are hard to control and it is necessary to develop strategies to prevent their propagation.
This research project is part of an agreement developed between the Ministry of Health and the CINETS alliance, which the UNal Medicine Faculty is also a participant.