Acinetobacter baumannii is a bacteria known for causing serious infections in hospitals, particularly among patients who are already severely ill. Over time, this pathogen has developed resistance to many antibiotics, including carbapenems, which are often used as a last resort.
A research team from the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) has conducted a study to better understand how Acinetobacter baumannii develops resistance to cefiderocol, an antibiotic approved in 2019. The findings were published in the journal Microbiology Spectrum by lead author Kevin Josue Rome and his colleagues Barry Kreiswirth, Ph.D., and others.
The researchers took a comprehensive approach by using genome-wide transposon mutagenesis along with genomic and phenotypic analysis of clinical isolates that were resistant to cefiderocol. This allowed them to gain a broader understanding of the genetic factors involved in resistance.
"Our genome-wide transposon mutagenesis provided an unbiased framework to uncover previously underappreciated determinants of (cefiderocol) resistance," they write. "By defining how these pathways converge, this work provides a broader mechanistic framework for interpreting emerging resistance in clinical settings."
They further state: "These insights underscore the need for integrated surveillance strategies and highlight the biological complexity that must be considered to preserve the effectiveness of this last-line antibiotic."
The authors suggest that continued research into these mechanisms could help prevent further development of antibiotic resistance.
