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Quantification, Viability Assessment, and Visualization Strategies for Acinetobacter Biofilms
07:41

Quantification, Viability Assessment, and Visualization Strategies for Acinetobacter Biofilms

Published on: August 4, 2023

Acinetobacter infections: a growing threat for critically ill patients

M E Falagas1, E A Karveli, I I Siempos

  • 1Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences (AIBS), Athens, Greece. m.falagas@aibs.gr

Epidemiology and Infection
|September 26, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Acinetobacter infections are a growing concern in intensive-care-unit (ICU) patients, particularly pneumonia and bloodstream infections in Asia and Europe. Antimicrobial resistance is also higher in these regions compared to the United States.

Area of Science:

  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Rising incidence of Acinetobacter infections in critically ill patients.
  • Acinetobacter species are a significant cause of hospital-acquired infections.
  • Concerns over increasing antimicrobial resistance in Acinetobacter isolates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the relative frequency of Acinetobacter pneumonia and bacteraemia in intensive-care-unit (ICU) patients.
  • To assess the antimicrobial resistance patterns of Acinetobacter isolates.
  • To compare the prevalence and resistance across different geographical regions.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review and data extraction from electronic databases.
  • Analysis of studies on Acinetobacter infections in ICU patients.
  • Comparison of infection rates and antimicrobial resistance data.

Main Results:

  • Acinetobacter pneumonia is more prevalent in Asian (4-44%) and European (0-35%) ICUs than in US (6-11%) ICUs.
  • A geographical gradient in Acinetobacter pneumonia prevalence exists within Europe.
  • Higher resistance to aminoglycosides and piperacillin/tazobactam observed in Asian and European isolates compared to US isolates.

Conclusions:

  • Acinetobacter infections pose a growing threat to critically ill patients, especially in Asia and Europe.
  • Regional variations in Acinetobacter infection rates and antimicrobial resistance are evident.
  • The findings highlight the need for targeted surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship strategies.

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