Acinetobacter: A War Zone in the Hospital

Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as a significant hospital pathogen because of the increasing number of infections and the global spread of strains with resistance to multiple antibiotic classes. An important contribution to the epidemiology of infections with A. baumannii has been the return of military personnel who have fought in Iraq or Afghanistan. In spite of its clinical relevance, until recently, there has been limited scientific data regarding the microbiological and pharmacological aspects of this organism. The availability of complete genome sequences, molecular tools for manipulating the bacterial genome, and animal models of infection facilitated the identification of factors that play a role in A. baumannii persistence and infection. This review summarizes the currently available data on the microbiology of A. baumanni and its clinical and pharmacotherapeutic implications on healthcare.