Objective: Huge increase of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii strains associated with healthcareassociated infections is a leading cause of treatment failures. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the genotypic relationships and epidemic risks of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii strains in eastern provinces of Turkey, such as Van, Iğdır, Ağrı, Kars and Ardahan. We also aim to contribute to the surveillance of these infections in the eastern border provinces of Turkey, with our study.

Methods: A total of 84 carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii strains, which were previously identified according to their phenotypes by conventional culture methods were then confirmed genotypically using _{blaOXA-51-like} genes by PCR. Their antibiotic susceptibility profiles were determined by liquid microdilution method. The phylogenetic relationship between the isolates was assessed using the ApaI-PFGE method. The PFGE band profiles were analized by using the Gel COMPARE-II software system based on a similarity rate of 80% and above.

Results: Twenty two of 84 carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates showed 100% clonal relationship in eight different pulsotypes. It was observed that 100% similar isolates formed a pulsotype among themselves in the same provinces, where the highest similarity was within the strains from Van province.

Conclusion: Association of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii clones should be considered as an indication that Turkey dominates the Eastern Anatolia Region as well. When compared to similar studies from different regions of our country, it was observed that antibiotic resistance of isolated Acinetobacter baumannii strains had lower incidence than other regions. However, the finding of similar clones in different hospitals supports the common fear of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii strains: “certain resistant clones will dominate hospitals and society all over the world”.