Kock, Marleen M.Bellomo, Alessandro N.Storm, NadiaEhlers, Marthie Magdaleen2013-10-112013-10-112013Kock, MM, Bellomo, AN, Storm, N & Ehlers, MM 2013, 'Prevalence of carbapenem resistance genes in Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from clinical specimens obtained from an academic hospital in South Africa', Southern African Journal of Epidemiology & Infection, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 28-32.1015-8782http://hdl.handle.net/2263/32027Acinetobacter baumannii is an important cause of hospital-acquired infections. The occurrence of carbapenem resistance that is caused by the carbapenem-hydrolysing class D β-lactamases and the metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) limits the range of therapeutic alternatives in treating A. baumannii infections. In this study, two multiplex polymerase chain reactions were performed to screen for both carbapenem-hydrolysing class D β-lactamases and MBL genes in 97 clinical isolates of A. baumannii. Oxacillinase (OXA)-51 had a prevalence of 83% (81/97), and OXA-23 had a prevalence of 59% (57/97). One isolate was positive for an MBL [Verona integron-encoded metallo β-lactamases (VIM)]. Therefore, continuous surveillance and monitoring of A. baumannii is crucial because of the high prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes.en© SAJEIAcinetobacter baumanniiCarbapenem-hydrolysing class D-β-lactamasesMetallo-β-lactamasesDrug resistance in microorganisms -- South AfricaAcinetobacter infections -- South AfricaArticle