Tackling Acinetobacter baumannii: A Dual Approach towards Isolation and Bacteriophage Mediated Eradication

Abstract

Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen that causes various hospital and community-acquired infections. According to WHO, it is a priority one critical pathogen and poses a potential hazard to human health. Thus, the goal of our study was to develop techniques for detecting Acinetobacter baumannii, determining its antibiotic susceptibility pattern, and providing a therapeutic alternative to eliminate antimicrobial resistance. In our investigation, we gathered two types of samples: clinical and hospital wastewater. Clinical samples were utilized to diagnose Acinetobacter baumannii and determine its antibiotic resistance pattern. Bacteriophage was isolated from wastewater, and its lytic activity was tested using a spot test and plaque assay. Antibiotic susceptibility testing determined that Amikacin, Cefepime, Gentamicin, Meropenem, Piperacillin-tazobactam, Imipenem, and Levofloxacin, are resistant to Acinetobacter baumannii, only effective drug is Doxycycline that showed 21% resistant. And the isolated phage has significant lytic activity against the A. baumannii strain DSM 30007. Thus, our investigation includes diagnostic procedures, antibiotic susceptibility patterns, and phage therapy for Acinetobacter baumannii clinical strains.