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Quantification, Viability Assessment, and Visualization Strategies for Acinetobacter Biofilms
Published on: August 4, 2023
Community-acquired Acinetobacter infections
M E Falagas1, E A Karveli, I Kelesidis
1Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences (AIBS), 9 Neapoleos Street, 151 23 Marousi, Athens, Greece.
Summary
Community-acquired Acinetobacter infections, particularly pneumonia and bacteremia, are a serious concern, especially in subtropical regions. These infections often affect individuals with underlying health conditions and carry a high mortality rate.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Acinetobacter infections are increasingly recognized in hospitalized patients, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs).
- Emerging evidence indicates Acinetobacter can also cause severe community-acquired infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize available literature on community-acquired Acinetobacter infections.
- To identify the clinical characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes of these infections.
Main Methods:
- Systematic search of PubMed and reference lists for case series and case reports of community-acquired Acinetobacter infections.
- Inclusion of retrospective and prospective studies reporting the frequency of these infections.
Main Results:
- Analysis of six case series (80 patients) and 26 case reports (43 patients) revealed Acinetobacter pneumonia and bacteremia as common presentations.
- High mortality rates (56% in case series) were observed.
- Common comorbidities included COPD, renal disease, and diabetes; heavy smoking and alcohol use were also prevalent.
- Studies predominantly originated from China, Taiwan, and tropical Australia.
Conclusions:
- Community-acquired Acinetobacter infections are a significant public health issue, particularly in tropical/subtropical climates.
- Patients with comorbidities, heavy smoking, or excessive alcohol consumption are at higher risk.
- Further research is needed to understand and mitigate the impact of these infections.
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