Acinetobacter in veterinary medicine, with an emphasis on Acinetobacter baumannii

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Veterinary Medicine
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Acinetobacter spp. are ubiquitous Gram-negative bacteria, with Acinetobacter baumannii being a clinically significant species.
• Acinetobacter baumannii exhibits remarkable antimicrobial resistance and environmental survival, leading to its emergence as a veterinary nosocomial pathogen.
• While Acinetobacter spp. can be identified by MALDI-TOF/MS, molecular methods are essential for detailed genotyping.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the growing concern of Acinetobacter baumannii as a cause of nosocomial infections in veterinary medicine.
• To review the spectrum of infections caused by A. baumannii in various animal species.
• To emphasize the importance of antimicrobial susceptibility testing and infection control in veterinary settings.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of Acinetobacter baumannii in veterinary nosocomial infections.
• Identification of Acinetobacter spp. using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS).
• Molecular techniques for genotyping and determining clonal lineages.

Main Results:

• Acinetobacter baumannii causes various nosocomial infections in animals, including pyoderma, necrotizing fasciitis, and sepsis.
• Treatment often requires supportive care and relies on in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
• Animal isolates display significant genetic diversity and distinct resistance patterns compared to human isolates.

Conclusions:

• Acinetobacter baumannii poses a significant threat in veterinary hospitals, necessitating robust infection control measures.
• Animals may act as reservoirs for multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, underscoring the need for vigilance.
• Preventing nosocomial outbreaks of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in veterinary settings is paramount.