Molecular epidemiology characterization of OXA-23 carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from 8 Brazilian hospitals using repetitive sequence-based PCR.

The typing of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates is important for the control and prevention of hospital outbreaks. This study aimed to analyze the molecular epidemiology of 46 OXA-23 carbapenemase-producing A. baumannii strains and compare them to previously described local and international clones (ICs). Isolates were recovered during May 2009-August 2011, from 8 different hospitals in the state of Parana (Brazil). The molecular profiles were determined by repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR. Seven different clusters were identified (A to G). Thirty-two isolates were clustered in the same pattern (clone A), which belong to IC 4.