Colistin Resistance Mechanism and Management Strategies of Colistin-Resistant <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> Infections

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> (<i>A. baumannii</i>) is a pressing threat in clinical settings. Colistin is currently a widely used treatment for multidrug-resistant <i>A. baumannii</i>, serving as the last line of defense. Ho...

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Main Authors: Md Minarul Islam, Da Eun Jung, Woo Shik Shin, Man Hwan Oh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Pathogens
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/12/1049
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author Md Minarul Islam
Da Eun Jung
Woo Shik Shin
Man Hwan Oh
author_facet Md Minarul Islam
Da Eun Jung
Woo Shik Shin
Man Hwan Oh
author_sort Md Minarul Islam
collection DOAJ
description The emergence of antibiotic-resistant <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> (<i>A. baumannii</i>) is a pressing threat in clinical settings. Colistin is currently a widely used treatment for multidrug-resistant <i>A. baumannii</i>, serving as the last line of defense. However, reports of colistin-resistant strains of <i>A. baumannii</i> have emerged, underscoring the urgent need to develop alternative medications to combat these serious pathogens. To resist colistin, <i>A. baumannii</i> has developed several mechanisms. These include the loss of outer membrane lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) due to mutation of LPS biosynthetic genes, modification of lipid A (a constituent of LPSs) structure through the addition of phosphoethanolamine (PEtN) moieties to the lipid A component by overexpression of chromosomal pmrCAB operon genes and <i>eptA</i> gene, or acquisition of plasmid-encoded <i>mcr</i> genes through horizontal gene transfer. Other resistance mechanisms involve alterations of outer membrane permeability through porins, the expulsion of colistin by efflux pumps, and heteroresistance. In response to the rising threat of colistin-resistant <i>A. baumannii</i>, researchers have developed various treatment strategies, including antibiotic combination therapy, adjuvants to potentiate antibiotic activity, repurposing existing drugs, antimicrobial peptides, nanotechnology, photodynamic therapy, CRISPR/Cas, and phage therapy. While many of these strategies have shown promise in vitro and in vivo, further clinical trials are necessary to ensure their efficacy and widen their clinical applications. Ongoing research is essential for identifying the most effective therapeutic strategies to manage colistin-resistant <i>A. baumannii.</i> This review explores the genetic mechanisms underlying colistin resistance and assesses potential treatment options for this challenging pathogen.
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spelling doaj-art-36757b3d62584121ab27e594beadc5aa2025-08-20T02:57:17ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172024-11-011312104910.3390/pathogens13121049Colistin Resistance Mechanism and Management Strategies of Colistin-Resistant <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> InfectionsMd Minarul Islam0Da Eun Jung1Woo Shik Shin2Man Hwan Oh3Smart Animal Bio Institute, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Microbiology, College of Science and Technology, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272, USASmart Animal Bio Institute, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of KoreaThe emergence of antibiotic-resistant <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> (<i>A. baumannii</i>) is a pressing threat in clinical settings. Colistin is currently a widely used treatment for multidrug-resistant <i>A. baumannii</i>, serving as the last line of defense. However, reports of colistin-resistant strains of <i>A. baumannii</i> have emerged, underscoring the urgent need to develop alternative medications to combat these serious pathogens. To resist colistin, <i>A. baumannii</i> has developed several mechanisms. These include the loss of outer membrane lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) due to mutation of LPS biosynthetic genes, modification of lipid A (a constituent of LPSs) structure through the addition of phosphoethanolamine (PEtN) moieties to the lipid A component by overexpression of chromosomal pmrCAB operon genes and <i>eptA</i> gene, or acquisition of plasmid-encoded <i>mcr</i> genes through horizontal gene transfer. Other resistance mechanisms involve alterations of outer membrane permeability through porins, the expulsion of colistin by efflux pumps, and heteroresistance. In response to the rising threat of colistin-resistant <i>A. baumannii</i>, researchers have developed various treatment strategies, including antibiotic combination therapy, adjuvants to potentiate antibiotic activity, repurposing existing drugs, antimicrobial peptides, nanotechnology, photodynamic therapy, CRISPR/Cas, and phage therapy. While many of these strategies have shown promise in vitro and in vivo, further clinical trials are necessary to ensure their efficacy and widen their clinical applications. Ongoing research is essential for identifying the most effective therapeutic strategies to manage colistin-resistant <i>A. baumannii.</i> This review explores the genetic mechanisms underlying colistin resistance and assesses potential treatment options for this challenging pathogen.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/12/1049colistinantibiotic-resistant<i>A. baumannii</i>mutationlipid A
spellingShingle Md Minarul Islam
Da Eun Jung
Woo Shik Shin
Man Hwan Oh
Colistin Resistance Mechanism and Management Strategies of Colistin-Resistant <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> Infections
Pathogens
colistin
antibiotic-resistant
<i>A. baumannii</i>
mutation
lipid A
title Colistin Resistance Mechanism and Management Strategies of Colistin-Resistant <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> Infections
title_full Colistin Resistance Mechanism and Management Strategies of Colistin-Resistant <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> Infections
title_fullStr Colistin Resistance Mechanism and Management Strategies of Colistin-Resistant <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> Infections
title_full_unstemmed Colistin Resistance Mechanism and Management Strategies of Colistin-Resistant <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> Infections
title_short Colistin Resistance Mechanism and Management Strategies of Colistin-Resistant <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> Infections
title_sort colistin resistance mechanism and management strategies of colistin resistant i acinetobacter baumannii i infections
topic colistin
antibiotic-resistant
<i>A. baumannii</i>
mutation
lipid A
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/12/1049
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AT wooshikshin colistinresistancemechanismandmanagementstrategiesofcolistinresistantiacinetobacterbaumanniiiinfections
AT manhwanoh colistinresistancemechanismandmanagementstrategiesofcolistinresistantiacinetobacterbaumanniiiinfections