AUTHOR=Ayibieke Alafate , Kobayashi Ayumi , Suzuki Masato , Sato Wakana , Mahazu Samiratu , Prah Isaac , Mizoguchi Miyuki , Moriya Kyoji , Hayashi Takaya , Suzuki Toshihiko , Iwanaga Shiroh , Ablordey Anthony , Saito Ryoichi 

TITLE=Prevalence and Characterization of Carbapenem-Hydrolyzing Class D β-Lactamase-Producing Acinetobacter Isolates From Ghana

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2020.587398

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2020.587398

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Multidrug resistance, especially carbapenem resistance in <italic>Acinetobacter</italic> bacteria is a global healthcare concern. However, available data on the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of <italic>Acinetobacter</italic> isolates from West Africa, including Ghana is scanty. Our aim was to investigate the antibiotic resistance profile and genotypic characteristics of <italic>Acinetobacter</italic> isolates from Ghana and to characterize carbapenemase producers using whole-genome sequencing (WGS). A total of 36 <italic>Acinetobacter</italic> isolates collected at three hospitals in Ghana between 2016 and 2017 were analyzed. MICs were determined by commercial antibiotic plates. <italic>Acinetobacter baumannii</italic> MLST was determined using the Pasteur scheme. WGS of OXA-carbapenemase producers was performed using short- and long-read sequencing strategies. The resistance rate was highest for trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (<italic>n</italic> = 22; 61%). Six (16.7%) and eight (22.2%) isolates were resistant to ceftazidime and colistin, respectively. Two (5.6%) isolates were resistant and one (2.8%) isolate had intermediate sensitivity to three carbapenems. Fifteen STs were identified in 24 <italic>A. baumannii</italic> isolates including six new STs (ST1467 ∼ ST1472). ST78 was the predominant (<italic>n</italic> = 6) followed by ST1469 (<italic>n</italic> = 3). Four carbapenemase-producing <italic>A. baumannii</italic> isolates also were identified. Isogenic ST103 isolates Ab-B004d-c and Ab-D10a-a harbored <italic>bla</italic><sub>OXA–</sub><sub>23</sub> within Tn<italic>2007</italic> on identical plasmids, pAb-B004d-c_3, and pAb-D10a-a_3. ST1472 isolate Ab-C102 and ST107 isolate Ab-C63 carried <italic>bla</italic><sub>OXA–</sub><sub>58</sub> and <italic>bla</italic><sub>OXA–</sub><sub>420</sub>, a rare <italic>bla</italic><sub>OXA–</sub><sub>58</sub> variant, respectively, within novel genetic contexts. Our results show that <italic>A. baumannii</italic> isolates of diverse and unique genotypes, including OXA-carbapenemase producers, are circulating in Ghana highlighting the need for a wider surveillance of antimicrobial resistance.</p>