Acinetobacter baumannii is able to gain and maintain a plasmid harbouring In35 found in Enterobacteriaceae isolates from Argentina

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the presence of bla CTX-M-2 in our A. baumannii population and their putative role as an alternative mechanism of resistance to third-generation cephalosporins in this species. The bla CTX-M-2 gene is widespread among the Enterobacteriaceae isolates from our country; however, it was not found in 76 isolates A. baumannii non-epidemiologically related clinical isolates resistant to third-generation cephalosporins isolated since 1982 in hospitals from Buenos Aires City. A plasmid isolated from Proteus mirabilis that possesses the complex class 1 integron In35::ISCR1::bla CTX-M-2 was used to transform the natural competent A. baumannii clinical strain A118. PCR, plasmid extraction, DNA restriction, and susceptibility test confirmed that A118 could gain and maintain the plasmid possessing In35::ISCR1::bla CTX-M-2, the genetic platform where the bla CTX-M-2 gene is dispersing in Argentina.