Mustafa Atiyah - Department of Microbiology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Ashraf Kariminik - Department of Microbiology, Kerman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran, Food and Agricultural Safety Research Center, Kerman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran
Farokh Rokhbakhsh-Zamin - Department of Microbiology, Kerman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran

Acinetobacter baumannii is recognized as a predominant cause of hospital-acquired infections on a global scale. The persistent nature of these infections can be attributed to antimicrobial resistance and biofilm production. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern, as well as the characteristics of A. baumannii biofilms. This study was conducted on ۱۵۰ patients hospitalized in medical diagnostic and healthcare service centers. The Isolates were identified using standard laboratory methods. The antibiotic resistance pattern was determined by disk diffusion susceptibility test. The ability to biofilm formation was assessed using the microplate method. Detection of bap, pbpG, csuA, plD and surA genes in the isolates was carried out by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Out of the total ۱۵۰ clinical isolates, ۴۰ isolates were identified as A. baumannii. ۶۷.۵% (۲۷/۴۰) of the isolates were multidrug-resistant patterns. There was a significant relationship between resistance and the phenotypic frequency of biofilm production ability. ۴ isolates (۱۰%), ۱۳ isolates (۳۲.۵%) and ۲۳ isolates (۵۷.۵%) showed weak, intermediate and strong biofilm formation respectively. The frequency of the bap, pbpG, csuA, surA, and plD genes among the isolates was ۷۷.۵%, ۴۲.۵%, ۷۷.۵%, ۶۵%, and ۱۰۰%, respectively. It is crucial to emphasize the importance of prudent antimicrobial utilization and maintaining rigorous infection prevention and control measures to prevent the escalation of antimicrobial resistance. Additionally, employing combination strategies that involve appropriate anti-pseudomonal antibiotics in conjunction with anti-biofilm agents can be a viable approach for effectively eradicating infections associated with biofilm formation.

Bacteria, infection, Drug, PCR, Antibacterial, Hospital, Medicine