The effect of the efflux pump inhibitor Carbonyl Cyanide m- Chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) on the susceptibility to imipenem and cefepime in clinical strains of Acinetobacter Baumannii

Abstract

Introducción: Durante los XX últimos años, Acinetobacter baumannii se ha posicionado como una de las principales infecciones intrahospitalarias resistentes a antibióticos. A. baumannii multidrogoresistente (MDR) está considerado por la OMS dentro del grupo más crítico de resistencia. Uno de los mecanismos de resistencia identificados en dicho patógeno son las bombas de eflujo, por lo que, se han desarrollado inhibidores de las mismas, generando así menos resistencia por parte de las bacterias hacia los antibióticos.

Objetivos: En nuestro estudio, el objetivo fue evaluar el efecto de la adición del inhibidor de bomba de eflujo CCCP sobre la actividad bactericida de imipenem y cefepime en cepas de A. baumannii

Métodos: 49 cepas aisladas como A. baumannii fueron obtenidas en el Hospital Regional de Cajamarca. Mediante técnicas moleculares en el laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC) se confirmaron 47 cepas positivas para A. baumannii. Se utilizó PCR- en tiempo real para identificar el gen blaOXA-51-like y para la determinación de la CMI el método de microdilución en caldo. Finalmente se añadió el inhibidor CCCP para poder evaluar si efecto sobre los antibióticos

Resultados: Un total de 49 cepas aisladas de A. baumannii fueron obtenidas en el Hospital Regional de Cajamarca. Se determinó la susceptibilidad antimicrobiana mediante la concentración mínima inhibitoria y la actividad de la bomba de eflujo fue evaluada usando CCCP.

Conclusiones: Las bombas de eflujo puede jugar un rol importante en la resistencia antibiótica de A. baumannii. El inhibidor CCCP junto a imipenem y cefepime, mejora la sensibilidad antibiótica. Asimismo, nuevas estrategias terapéuticas son requeridas para eliminar el transporte de eflujo de las cepas resistentes que causan infecciones nosocomiales

Introduction: In the last years the rapid expansion of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii strains have become a major health problem. Efflux pumps are a group of transport proteins that contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the efflux pump inhibitor carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) on the antimicrobial action of imipenem and cefepime on clinical strains of A. baumannii.

Materials and methods: A total of 49 non-duplicate clinical samples were collected during January through December of 2018 from patients hospitalized in the Hospital Regional Docente de Cajamarca. Of the 49 samples obtained, the confirmatory identification of A. baumannii was performed on 47 samples by molecular methods. The amplification of the blaOXA-51-like gene was carried out by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was calculated using the microdilution method in culture broth. The susceptibility to both antibiotics (cefepime and imipenem) was evaluated in the presence and absence of the inhibitor carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP).

Results: A total of 47 strains of A. baumannii were isolated: 97.87% (46/47) were resistant to Imipenem, 2.13% (1/47) of them were classified as intermediate and none of these strains were susceptible. On the other hand, 51.06% (24/47) of isolates were resistant to cefepime; 19.15% (9/47) intermediate and 29.79% (14/47) susceptible. We considered a significant difference in antibiotic susceptibility if the MIC changed at least 4 dilutions, after the addition of the inhibitor. In the case of CCCP in addition to imipenem, 2.1% (1/47) had a significant change of 4 or more reductions in MIC, 59.6% (28/47) achieved a change equal or less than 3 dilutions and 17.0% (8/47) did not have any change. In the case of CCCP with cefepime the percentage of strains with the significant change of MIC was 8.5% (4/47). On the other hand, 53.2% (24/47) presented a reduction equal or less than 3 dilutions and 12.8% (6/47) did not show changes.

Conclusion: In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the use of CCCP may improve the antibiotic effect of imipenem and cefepime on clinical strains of A. baumannii. The relevance of this study is that it provides evidence that this efflux pump inhibitor may be an alternative treatment against multidrug-resistant A. baumannii.