A Rapid Method to Screen for Multi Drug Resistance (MDR) Trait in Clinical Isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii-Acyl Homoserine Lactone (AHL) Screening in CRAB and CSAB Isolates

Aims: Our proposal aimed to evaluate Acyl Homoserine Lactones (AHL) as a functional marker for Multi drug resistant (MDR) potential in clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii. We investigated the AHL production using biosensor assay directly on commonly used agar media.
 Place and Duration Study: Department Molecular Diagnostics Biomarkers, Gleneagles Global Hospitals, Lakdikapul, Hyderabad-500004.
 Methodology: Antimicrobial sensitivity testing (AST) was performed 72 A. baumannii against two front-line antibiotics, Imipenem (10µg) Meropenem (10µg), by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Production long chain lactone (AHLs) tested cross streaking with Chromobacterium violaceum mutant strain CV026 Agrobacterium tumefaciens (NTL4pZLR4) plate assay. Screening identification quorum sensing mediator gene abaI done PCR confirm its presence all isolates.
 Results: Out isolates, 58 were Carbapenem (CRAB) 14 sensitive (CSAB) AST disc None our produced short AHLs whereas could produce varying amounts AHLs. Genotypic confirmation obtained PCR.
 Conclusion: Carbapenems are antibiotics treat gram negative bacterial infections emergencies critical care units hospitals. Clinical has innate resistance several due various mechanisms, biofilms forming first line defense bacterium. study carbapenem leading MDR, assuming other beta lactam antibiotics. brought out certain important observations namely: a) All Quorum Sensing signal molecules, b) did not any c) is specific because even CSAB d) inherent it apparently indicates an underlying biofilm MDR trait these isolates. e) be universal revealing microbiology profiling protocols.