Predominance of Acinetobacter spp., Harboring the blaIMP Gene, Contaminating the Hospital Environment in a Tertiary Hospital in Mwanza, Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Laboratory-Based Study

Data on colonization and hospital contamination of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CR-GNB) are limited in low- and middle-income countries. We designed this study to determine the prevalence and co-existence of carbapenemase genes among CR-GNB isolated from clinical, colonization, and hospital environmental samples at a tertiary hospital in Mwanza, Tanzania. The modified Hodge test (MHT), the combined disk test (CDT), and the double-disk synergy test (DDST) were used for the phenotypic detection of carbapenemases. A multiplex PCR assay was used to detect bla(IMP) and bla(KPC), and a singleplex PCR assay was used to detect bla(OXA-48). Data were analyzed by STATA version 13.0. Overall, 68.8% (44/64) of the CR-GNB had at least one phenotype by phenotypic methods, whereby 60.9% (39/64) were both CDT and DDST positive and 31.3% (20/64) were MHT positive. A total of 23/64 (35.9%) had at least one of the genes tested with the predominance of bla(IMP) (91.3%; 21/23). In addition, 47.7% (21/44) of the CR-GNB phenotypes had at least one gene. Around 47.8% (11/23) of the CR-GNB carried multiple genes encoding for carbapenem resistance, with the maximum co-existence of bla(IMP)/bla(KPC)/bla(OXA-48) (45.5%; 5/11). The majority of carbapenem-resistant genes were detected in Acinetobacter spp. (82.6%; 19/23) and isolated from bed swabs (69.6%; 16/23). Acinetobacter spp. carrying the bla(IMP) gene predominantly contaminated the hospital environment. Therefore, we recommend routine decontamination of inanimate hospital surfaces, including patient beds.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CR-GNB) in clinical, colonization, and hospital environmental samples at a tertiary hospital in Mwanza, Tanzania. The majority of CR-GNB carried carbapenemase genes, with Acinetobacter spp. being the main source of contamination. Therefore, routine decontamination of hospital surfaces is recommended to reduce the spread of infection.