Acinetobacter baumannii: Epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, and treatment options

Lisa L. Maragakis, Trish M. Perl

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

816 Scopus citations

Abstract

Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii is recognized to be among the most difficult antimicrobial-resistant gramnegative bacilli to control and treat. Increasing antimicrobial resistance among Acinetobacter isolates has been documented, although definitions of multidrug resistance vary in the literature. A. baumannii survives for prolonged periods under a wide range of environmental conditions. The organism causes outbreaks of infection and health care-associated infections,including bacteremia, pneumonia, meningitis, urinary tract infection, and wound infection. Antimicrobial resistance greatly limits the therapeutic options for patients who are infected with this organism, especially if isolates are resistant to the carbapenem class of antimicrobial agents. Because therapeutic options are limited for multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter infection, the development or discovery of new therapies, well-controlled clinical trials of existing antimicrobial regimens and combinations, and greater emphasis on the prevention of health care-associated transmission of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter infection are essential.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1254-1263
Number of pages10
JournalClinical Infectious Diseases
Volume46
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 15 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology (medical)
  • Infectious Diseases

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