Acinetobacter baumannii: an emerging opportunistic pathogen

Abstract

Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen primarily associated with hospital-acquired infections. The recent increase in incidence, largely associated with infected combat troops returning from conflict zones, coupled with a dramatic increase in the incidence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains, has significantly raised the profile of this emerging opportunistic pathogen. Herein, we provide an overview of the pathogen, discuss some of the major factors that have led to its clinical prominence and outline some of the novel therapeutic strategies currently in development.

Figure 1. (A) Complex streak of Acinetobacter baumannii following overnight growth on Luria-Bertani agar at 37°C. (B) Gram-stain of log phase A. baumannii cells grown in Luria-Bertani broth. Arrow indicates an individual A. baumannii cell.