Mapping Resistance and ompA/epsA Genes in Hospital Acinetobacter baumannii

Acinetobacter baumannii is a dangerous hospital-acquired pathogen. It shows strong antibiotic resistance and produces biofilms that create challenging treatment conditions. The pathogen exists on hospital surfaces while it rapidly moves between patients to cause nosocomial infections. Mrthodology: This research was conducted between October 2024 and July 2025 in hospitals located in Erbil and Koya, within the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. 126 environmental samples were taken from different high-touch surfaces located throughout various hospital wards. The VITEK 2 system identified bacteria then 16S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed the results. The biofilm-related genes ompA and epsA were detected using polymerase chain reaction. Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and disk diffusion methods. Biofilm formation was evaluated using the microtiter plate assay. Results: Overall, 16 A. baumannii isolates were identified. The ompA gene was found in every isolate, whereas epsA was present in 31.25%. All isolates were biofilm producers, though no strong biofilm formation was observed; 25% were moderate and 75% weak biofilm producers. Furthermore, 94% of the isolates were extensively drug-resistant. Conclusion: This study highlights the presence of extensively drug-resistant A. baumannii on hospital surfaces, posing a serious risk for nosocomial infections. The high prevalence of ompA and biofilm forming capability of all isolates indicate strong environmental persistence. These observations highlight the essential need for stringent infection control and sustained monitoring in clinical environments.