Acinetobacter baumannii: An Emerging and Important Pathogen.

OBJECTIVE To review the clinical significance, management, and control of Acinetobacter infections. METHODS Literature review. RESULTS Acinetobacter infections have become a major cause of hospital-acquired infections worldwide. Acinetobacter is noted for its ability to survive for long periods on hospital surfaces and equipment, its predilection to develop resistance to multiple antibiotics, its affinity to cause serious infections in critically ill patients, and many well described outbreaks attributable to contamination of a common source. The crude ICU mortality is approximately 40%. Rigorous antibiotic stewardship and infection control measures are critical to prevent the spread of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter infections. There is also a pressing need for new therapeutic options. CONCLUSION Acinetobacter is an emerging pathogen of increasing significance.