Study of mechanisms of resistance of Acinetobacter spp. resistant to carbapenens isolates from blood

• Grant number: 07/54392-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2007
• End date: July 31, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Silvia Figueiredo Costa
• Grantee: Silvia Figueiredo Costa
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The emergency of infections caused by multi-resistant microorganisms had been a world-wide problem of great importance. In the Hospital das Clinicas of the University of Sao Paulo, these microorganisms had been responsible for 15% of the cases of bloodstream infections, in 1993 and 1994. In 2006, Acinetobacter baumannii was the second agent of bloodstream infections in intensive therapy units of this hospital. The mechanisms of resistance of A. baumannii to carbapenens identified in Brazil, had been not completely elucidated. The aim of the present study is to verify the presence of mechanisms such as alteration of external membrane, beta-lactamase production and efflux systems in isolates of Acinetobacter spp. resistant to carbapenens. (AU)