ACINETOBACTER BAUMANNII: EPIDEMIOLOGY AND ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE

A.baumannii is an opportunistic bacterium that has emerged in recent decades as a causative agent of potentially epidemic nosocomial infections. This bacterium has been able to develop an impressive resistance against the majority of antibiotics, which explains the therapeutic difficulties encountered. The objective of this work is to determine, through a retrospective study, the epidemiological profile, and the antibiotic resistance of A.baumannii strains isolated from diagnostic specimens made at Avicenne military hospital of Marrakech, and follow their evolution over 5 years (2012-2017). A.baumannii accounted for 3.75% of all isolated organisms during this period (n = 183). All hospital services were concerned, with a predominance of reanimation units (66% of isolates). The results obtained showed that these pathogens originate in 53% of the protected specimen brush and the main infectious sites were pneumopathies and urinary tract infections. An increase in the resistance of A.baumannii isolates for all antibiotics tested was observed (Ceftazidime 87%, Céfépime98%, Imipenem 84%, Ciprofloxacin 96% and Gentamicin 61%). However, all strains remained sensitive to Colistin. These results confirm the multidrug-resistant nature of A.baumannii and its nosocomial nature. This resistance represents a serious therapeutic and epidemiological problem, hence the need for the establishment of a system for monitoring the microbial environment of the hospital and the strict application of preventive measures