Activity of selected beta-lactams, ciprofloxacin, and amikacin against different Acinetobacter baumannii biotypes from Chilean hospitals.

The activity of some third generation cephalosporins, aztreonam, imipenem, ciprofloxacin, and amikacin against isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii of various biotypes has been studied. The isolates, independently of the biotype, exhibited a broad multiresistance against cephalosporins. Ceftazidime was the most active and cefoperazone the least active compound. Aztreonam also showed low activity and no imipenem-resistant strains were found. Ciprofloxacin and amikacin were somewhat more active than cephalosporins, but resistant isolates were also frequent. Isolates of Biotypes 9 and 8 exhibited broader multiresistance than those of Biotype 6 and "other."