Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic bacteria and a known pathogen and hospital pest1.
A. baumannii may be a commensal gut and soil bacteria but can cause urinary tract infections, particularly in susceptible people i.e. those in hospital settings. The risk of infection increases with catheter use since this microbe develops biofilms2–4.
The rates of vulvovaginal infections of A. baumannii are low, but this may change in the near future as the bacteria evolves.
Particular care should be taken during pregnancy, as complications an arise from vaginal and cervical infection with A. baumannii5.
With A. calcoaceticus, these two bacteria are referred to as the A. calcoaceticus-A. baumannii complex.
References
- 1.Howard A, O’Donoghue M, Feeney A, Sleator RD. Acinetobacter baumannii. Virulence. May 2012:243-250. doi:10.4161/viru.19700
- 2.Gaddy JA, Actis LA. Regulation ofAcinetobacter baumanniibiofilm formation. Future Microbiology. April 2009:273-278. doi:10.2217/fmb.09.5
- 3.Brossard KA, Campagnari AA. The Acinetobacter baumannii Biofilm-Associated Protein Plays a Role in Adherence to Human Epithelial Cells. Blanke SR, ed. Infect Immun. November 2011:228-233. doi:10.1128/iai.05913-11
- 4.Loehfelm TW, Luke NR, Campagnari AA. Identification and Characterization of an Acinetobacter baumannii Biofilm-Associated Protein. Journal of Bacteriology. November 2007:1036-1044. doi:10.1128/jb.01416-07
- 5.Aivazova V, Kainer F, Friese K, Mylonas I. Acinetobacter baumannii infection during pregnancy and puerperium. Arch Gynecol Obstet. May 2009:171-174. doi:10.1007/s00404-009-1107-z
