Acinetobacter: an old friend, but a new enemy
1Department of Clinical Microbiology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK. Kevin.Towner@nuh.nhs.uk
The Journal of Hospital Infection
|August 25, 2009
Summary
Acinetobacter baumannii is a growing hospital-acquired infection threat, especially multidrug-resistant strains. Enhanced infection control and antibiotic stewardship are crucial to combat escalating outbreaks in healthcare settings.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Hospital Epidemiology
Background:
- Acinetobacter emerged as a significant nosocomial pathogen in the late 1970s, linked to increased broad-spectrum antibiotic use.
- Clinically relevant Acinetobacter isolates, primarily Acinetobacter baumannii, frequently cause infections in intensive care, burns, and high-dependency units.
- Outbreaks of epidemic strains of Acinetobacter baumannii are common in these units, affecting severely ill patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the escalating problem of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-AB) infections in healthcare settings.
- To discuss the challenges in treating infections caused by these resistant strains, including limited therapeutic options.
- To emphasize the importance of infection control and prevention strategies in managing Acinetobacter outbreaks.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical observations and epidemiological data regarding Acinetobacter infections.
- Analysis of antimicrobial resistance patterns, particularly carbapenem resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii.
- Evaluation of current infection control guidelines and their effectiveness.
Main Results:
- Increasing global reports of Acinetobacter baumannii isolates resistant to all conventional antimicrobial agents.
- Limited clinical data supporting the efficacy of newer agents like tigecycline against multidrug-resistant strains.
- Persistent challenges in preventing and controlling outbreaks despite adherence to infection control measures.
Conclusions:
- Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii poses a significant and escalating threat in healthcare facilities worldwide.
- Effective management requires robust antibiotic stewardship, stringent infection control, and improved disinfection protocols.
- Further research is needed to develop and validate new therapeutic strategies against these challenging pathogens.
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