Unravelling Antibiotic Resistance Profile and Biofilm Formation of Acinetobacter baumannii in Coimbatore Hospitals: A Comprehensive Study on Infection Management Strategies

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Acinetobacter baumannii in the Coimbatore area of Tamil Nadu, India, focusing on its antibiotic resistance patterns and biofilm formation capabilities.

Methodology: The study collected clinical isolates of A. baumannii from various sample sources in Coimbatore hospitals. Antibiotic resistance testing was conducted using the disc diffusion method, and biofilm formation was assessed using Congo red agar. Data on resistance patterns and biofilm production were analyzed across different sample sources and genders to understand the association between biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance.

Results: Totally 88 isolates were confirmed from 95 collected isolates. The highest antibiotic resistance observed in the data provided is for colistin (COL) in blood samples from male patients, with a resistance percentage of 11.7%. Conversely, the lowest antibiotic resistance observed is for tigecycline (TGC) in blood samples from female patients, bronchial aspiration samples from female patients, and tracheal aspiration samples from male patients, with a resistance percentage of 0%. In case of biofilm formation, pus samples show the highest biofilm formation was 50% in females, while both tracheal and bronchial aspiration samples exhibit the lowest.

Implications: Addressing A. baumannii biofilm formation is crucial for improving treatment outcomes and controlling antimicrobial resistance, requiring targeted interventions and understanding the biofilm-antibiotic resistance relationship.