Background:Recently, the dissemination of ESBL (PER-1) among Acinetobacter isolates was reported in Turkish hospitals. We investigated the presence and the association of various virulence determinants in 20 Acinetobacter baumannii isolates, of which 13 were blaPERMaterial/Methods: Virulence tests were slime and hemolysin production, gelatinase and protease activity, biofilm formation, and Caco2 cell adhesion. RAPD analysis was also performed with ERIC primers.Results: None of the strains was positive for slime or hemolysin production and gelatinase or protease activity. A total of 16 strains, five of which were PER-1 gene negative, formed a biofilm on polymer surfaces. There was no relation between the presence of the PER gene and biofilm formation. On the other hand, nine strains (all PER-1 gene positive) were positive in adhesion experiments to Caco2 cell lines. All PER-negative strains were negative for cell adhesion.Conclusions: This study indicates the existence of a relation between PER-1 gene and cell adhesion in Acinetobacter strains.

Keywords: Acinetobacter baumannii - classification, Acinetobacter baumannii - enzymology, Acinetobacter baumannii - genetics, Acinetobacter baumannii - pathogenicity, Bacterial Adhesion, Biofilms, Caco-2 Cells, DNA Fingerprinting, Endopeptidases - metabolism, Gelatinases - metabolism, Hemolysin Proteins - metabolism, Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique, Virulence, beta-Lactamases - genetics, beta-Lactamases - metabolism, Acinetobacter baumannii - pathogenicity, Bacterial Adhesion, Biofilms, Caco-2 Cells, DNA Fingerprinting, Endopeptidases - metabolism, Gelatinases - metabolism, Hemolysin Proteins - metabolism, Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique, Virulence, beta-Lactamases - metabolism