Acinetobacter baumanni

biosafety laboratory level

BSL-2

generation time

20-40 minutes

oxygen requirements

facultative anaerobe

pathogenicity

acinetobacter baumanni is a gram-negative bacteria that can cause a range of infections specifically in healthcare settings

-colonization and adhesion- has the ability to colonize and adhere to biotic and abiotic surfaces, including skin and medical devices

-biofilm formation– can form about films on surfaces, allowing it to resist anti-microbial agents and host immune responses. biofilm formation contributes to the persistence of acinetobacter

-virulence factors- this bacteria has different virulence factors that contribute to his pathogenicity, including capsule which provides protection against host immune defenses, outer membrane proteins, which play roles in adhesion and invasion, and secreted enzymes, including proteases and lipases which can contribute to tissue damage and evasion of immune defenses

-antimicrobial resistance – can develop resistance to multiple different antibiotics, which is associated with increased morbidly, mortality, and overall costs in healthcare

commonly prescribed antibiotics

-carbapenems (imipenem and meropenem), cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin), aminoglycosides (amikacin and gentamicin), colistin (a polymyxin antibiotic), combination therapy

antibiotic resistance profile

-resistance to carbapenems

-resistance to cephalosporins- due to the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs)

-resistance to fluoroquinolones- arises from mutations in the bacterial DNA gyrase

-resistance to aminoglycosides- due to the enzymatic modification of aminoglycosides

-resistance to tetracyclines- can occur through mechanisms such as the efflux pump and ribosomal protection proteins

-resistance to colistin- due to alterations in lipid A structure or the presence of plasmid-mediated genes

-multidrug resistance

types of infections

-pneumonia- acinetobacter baumanni can colonize ventilator equipment and respiratory tract secretions, leading to pneumonia and pneumonia cause by acinetobacter is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates

-bloodstream infections- can enter the blood leading to bacteremia which can result in sepsis and septic shock and immunocompromise patients

-urinary tract infections- cystitis (bladder infection), pyelonephritis (kidney infection)

-skin and soft tissue infections- cellulitis, abscesses and wound infections

-central nervous system infections- less common but acinetobacter can cause meningitis and ventriculitis. these infections occur in neurosurgical procedures, trauma, or as a result of bloodstream dissemination

-nosocomial outbreaks- can involve cross contamination and inadequate control practices