[Clinical importance of bacteremias caused by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus]

Clinical data from patients with Acinetobacter calcoaceticus bacteremia observed during a period of 10 years were retrospectively reviewed. These bacteremias represent the 0.66% of the total number of positive blood cultures observed during the same period of time. The type anitratus was the most common (79.4%) although there were no significant differences in epidemiology, sensitivity, or clinical significance between both types. Only in 55.8% of the cases bacteremia was considered of clinical relevance. Multiple intravenous catheters represented the most important risk factor for bacteremia and site of infection origin (42%). Mortality in this series was about 30% of the cases. Contributions to the high mortality rate were the impossibility to establish an appropriate antimicrobial treatment in most of the cases and the existence of severe underlying diseases. The presence of immunosuppressive therapy or the existence of polymicrobial sepsis did not alter the prognosis. We conclude that once the presence of a blood culture positive to A. calcoaceticus is detected, antimicrobial treatment should be immediately established and investigation on the origin sites should be directed to the existing intravascular catheters.