222 - Acinetobacter Species

Abstract

Acinetobacter species are aerobic gram-negative coccobacilli that are ubiquitous in soil and water. A. baumannii, and the closely related and phenotypically indistinguishable A. pittii and A. nosocomialis, cause the majority of human infections and are typically acquired in the health care setting. Additionally, there is growing evidence that Acinetobacter species infect animals and ectoparasites, highlighting potential new sources of human exposure. Acinetobacter species can easily incorporate multiple resistance mechanisms, resulting in multidrug-resistant strains that have limited antibiotic treatment options. The emergence of strains resistant to essentially all potent antimicrobial agents, coupled with a lack of new antibiotics in development, constitutes a significant public health threat. Treatment of Acinetobacter infections should be based on antibiotic susceptibility testing. Prevention of Acinetobacter transmission in the health care setting requires a multifactorial approach that emphasizes environmental disinfection and hand hygiene in the setting of stringent antimicrobial stewardship.