CELL-SURFACE PROPERTIES OF ACINETOBACTER-BAUMANNII

Cell surface properties of 78 strains of Acinetobacter baumannii of di fferent origin (lower respiratory tract, wound, blood and environment) were investigated. The bacterial adhesion to collagen, fibronectin, f ibrinogen and vitronectin was detected by particle agglutination assay s. Salt aggregation tests were used to determine the cell surface hydr ophobicity of isolated A. baumannii strains. We found that A. baumanni i strains originating from patients with wound infection and bacteraem ia showed significantly lower aggregative properties compared to respi ratory and environmental strains. Electron microscopic investigations revealed more fimbriated bacterial cells among the highly aggregative A. baumannii strains. This study demonstrates that the investigated A. baumannii strains can be divided into two different groups according to their cell surface properties and source of isolation, whereas the majority of strains, from the lower respiratory tract and the hospital environment expressed strong adhesive properties.