Abstract

SALAZAR DE VEGAS, Elsa et al. Determination of the gene which codifies the APH-(3’)-VIa enzyme in Acinetobacter 13TU:RUH1139 isolates of nosocomial origin. Rev. Soc. Ven. Microbiol. [online]. 2013, vol.33, n.1, pp.06-12. ISSN 1315-2556.

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the resistance phenotype and the presence of aminoglucoside-0-phosphotransferase-3’-VIa (aph-(3’)-VIa) in 23 isolates identified as Acinetobacter 12TU:RUH 1139, obtained from neonates and parenteral solutions administered to them, at the Neonatal High Risk Unit (NHRU) of the Instituto Autónomo Hospital Universitario de Los Andes (IAHULA). Six aminoglucosides were examined for determination of antimicrobial susceptibility by the agar-diffusion test (amikacin, gentamycin, tobramycin, netilmycin, dibekacin, and neomycin), as well kanamycin and streptomycin by the agar-dilution test. All the isolates were streptomycin resistant, and over 90% of them showed resistance to amikacin, gentamycin, and tobramycin, and 82.6% was resistant to netilmycin and dibekacin. Gene aph-(3`)-VIa was detected in 15 isolates from neonates and in 2 from the parenteral solutions. Due to the high percentage of aminoglucoside-resistant isolates, as well as the presence of the gene aph-(3’)-VIa in Acinetobacter 13TU:RUH 1139, the use of these antimicrobials as monotherapy should be restricted at the AUHLA, and it is necessary to constantly survey the genetic dissemination of this resistance.

Keywords : Acinetobacter 13TU:RUH 1139; aminoglucosides; aph-(3’)-VIa.