Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 2026

Characterizing Multidrug Efflux Systems in Acinetobacter baumannii Using an Efflux-Deficient Bacterial Strain and a Single-Copy Gene Expression System
05:06

Characterizing Multidrug Efflux Systems in Acinetobacter baumannii Using an Efflux-Deficient Bacterial Strain and a Single-Copy Gene Expression System

Published on: January 5, 2024

Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection in children

Maia De Luca1, Giulia Angelino, Francesca Ippolita Calò Carducci

  • 1University Department of Pediatrics, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy. maiadeluca@gmail.com

BMJ Case Reports
|June 13, 2012
PubMed

Insights

A young AIDS patient with brain toxoplasmosis and multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii sepsis was successfully treated with colistin and tigecycline. This case highlights effective treatment options for complex bacterial infections in immunocompromised individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • Acinetobacter baumannii is a significant cause of hospital-acquired infections.
  • Multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains pose a growing therapeutic challenge.
  • Patients with Acinetobacter baumannii infections often have underlying conditions, such as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

Observation:

  • A young patient diagnosed with AIDS presented with concurrent brain toxoplasmosis and sepsis.
  • The sepsis was caused by a multidrug-resistant strain of Acinetobacter baumannii.
  • Standard antibiotic therapies were likely to be ineffective due to the resistance profile.

Findings:

  • The patient's multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii sepsis was successfully treated with a combination of colistin and tigecycline.
  • This dual therapy demonstrated efficacy against a highly resistant bacterial pathogen.
  • The treatment regimen was well-tolerated by the immunocompromised patient.

Implications:

  • Colistin and tigecycline represent viable therapeutic options for severe infections caused by MDR Acinetobacter baumannii.
  • Effective management of MDR bacterial infections is crucial in immunocompromised populations.
  • Further research into treatment strategies for MDR pathogens in vulnerable patient groups is warranted.

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