Abstract
Acinetobacter spp. are Gram-negative bacteria that have become one of the most difficult pathogens to treat. The species A. baumannii, largely unknown 30 years ago, has risen to prominence particularly because of its ability to cause infections in immunocompromised patients. It is now a predominant pathogen in many hospitals as it has acquired resistance genes to virtually all antibiotics capable of treating Gram-negative bacteria, including the fluoroquinolones and the cephalosporins. Some members of the species have accumulated these resistance genes in large resistance islands, located in a "hot-spot" within the bacterial chromosome. The only conventional remaining treatment options were the carbapenems. However, A. baumannii possesses an inherent class D β-lactamase gene (blaOXA-51-like) that can have the ability to confer carbapenem resistance. Additionally, mechanisms of carbapenem resistance have emerged that derive from the importation of the distantly related class D β-lactamase genes blaOXA-23 and blaOXA-58. Although not inducible, the expression of these genes is controlled by mobile promoters carried on ISAba elements. It has also been found that other resistance genes including the chromosomal class C β-lactamase genes conferring cephalosporin resistance are controlled in the same manner. Colistin is now considered to be the final drug capable of treating infections caused by carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii; however, strains are now being isolated that are resistant to this antibiotic as well. The increasing inability to treat infections caused by A. baumannii ensures that this pathogen more than ranks with MRSA or Clostridium difficile as a threat to modern medicine.
Keywords: Acinetobacter baumannii, carbapenem, resistance
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:The Rise of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii
Volume: 19 Issue: 2
Author(s): Benjamin A. Evans, Ahmed Hamouda and Sebastian G.B. Amyes
Affiliation:
Keywords: Acinetobacter baumannii, carbapenem, resistance
Abstract: Acinetobacter spp. are Gram-negative bacteria that have become one of the most difficult pathogens to treat. The species A. baumannii, largely unknown 30 years ago, has risen to prominence particularly because of its ability to cause infections in immunocompromised patients. It is now a predominant pathogen in many hospitals as it has acquired resistance genes to virtually all antibiotics capable of treating Gram-negative bacteria, including the fluoroquinolones and the cephalosporins. Some members of the species have accumulated these resistance genes in large resistance islands, located in a "hot-spot" within the bacterial chromosome. The only conventional remaining treatment options were the carbapenems. However, A. baumannii possesses an inherent class D β-lactamase gene (blaOXA-51-like) that can have the ability to confer carbapenem resistance. Additionally, mechanisms of carbapenem resistance have emerged that derive from the importation of the distantly related class D β-lactamase genes blaOXA-23 and blaOXA-58. Although not inducible, the expression of these genes is controlled by mobile promoters carried on ISAba elements. It has also been found that other resistance genes including the chromosomal class C β-lactamase genes conferring cephalosporin resistance are controlled in the same manner. Colistin is now considered to be the final drug capable of treating infections caused by carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii; however, strains are now being isolated that are resistant to this antibiotic as well. The increasing inability to treat infections caused by A. baumannii ensures that this pathogen more than ranks with MRSA or Clostridium difficile as a threat to modern medicine.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
A. Evans Benjamin, Hamouda Ahmed and G.B. Amyes Sebastian, The Rise of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2013; 19 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612811306020223
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612811306020223 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
The Role of Beta-Blocker in Heart Failure in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease
Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials Hyperglycemia, Hypoglycemia and Dementia: Role of Mitochondria and Uncoupling Proteins
Current Molecular Medicine Recent Advances in Natural Product-Based Anti-Biofilm Approaches to Control Infections
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Q Fever Endocarditis
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Clopidogrel and Aspirin in Cardiovascular Medicine: Responders or Not -- Current Best Available Evidence
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Immunopathological Aspects of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection
Current Pediatric Reviews γ-Secretase Inhibitors and Modulators for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: Disappointments and Hopes
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Para-prosthetic Leaks Following Mitral Valve Replacement: Case Analysis on a 20-year Period
Current Cardiology Reviews Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Device Infections: Risk Scoring and Role of Antibiotic Envelope in Prevention
Recent Advances in Cardiovascular Drug Discovery (Discontinued) Glycoprotein Targeting and Other Applications of Lectins in Biotechnology
Current Protein & Peptide Science Antibiotic Susceptibility and Treatment of Brucellosis
Recent Patents on Anti-Infective Drug Discovery Strategies for Antimicrobial Drug Delivery to Biofilm
Current Pharmaceutical Design Antifungal Therapy of Aspergillosis of the Central Nervous System and Aspergillus Endophthalmitis
Current Pharmaceutical Design Cocaine and Acute Vascular Diseases
Current Drug Abuse Reviews Molecular Binding and Simulation Studies of Staphylococcus aureus Superantigens with Flavonoid Compounds
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Scintigraphic Imaging of Inflammatory Processes
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents Cardiovascular Imaging in Thromboembolic Risk Stratification for Atrial Fibrillation: Recent Patents and Current Practice
Recent Patents on Medical Imaging Nursing Assessment, Education, and Care of Extremely Premature Neonates with Patent Ductus Arteriosus
Current Pediatric Reviews Disseminated TB in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Combating Vancomycin Resistance in Bacteria: Targeting the D-ala-D-ala Dipeptidase VanX
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets