Description
Members of the genus Acinetobacter are common commensals in soil, water, foods and the clinical environment. Certain members of the genus, particularly A. baumannii, have also been implicated in a wide range of nosocomial infections, of which the most important is ventilator-associated pneumonia in ICUs or high-dependency units. Cross-transmission of A.baumannii occurs readily and outbreaks of infection in ICUs are common. The capacity of these bacteria for long-term survival in the hospital environment and their widespread antibiotic resistance makes treatment of infections and control of outbreaks caused by these organisms in ICUs one of the most difficult challenges currently faced by infection control teams.
