Clinical impact and molecular basis of antimicrobial resistance in non-baumannii Acinetobacter

Future Microbiol. 2011 May;6(5):495-511. doi: 10.2217/fmb.11.30.

Abstract

Species of Acinetobacter other than Acinetobacter baumannii are involved in nosocomial infections. Acinetobacter lwoffii, Acinetobacter genomospecies 3 and Acinetobacter genomospecies 13TU are found in community- and nosocomial-acquired infections as well as in neonatal intensive care units. The non-baumannii Acinetobacter are normally highly susceptible to ciprofloxacin, ampicillin/sulbactam, gentamicin and tigecycline. Carbepenems show good activity although resistant isolates have been reported. Resistance to β-lactams other than carbapenems is associated with overexpression of chromosomal cephalosporinases and extended-spectrum β-lactamase acquisition, whereas resistance to carbapenems involves acquisition of carbapenemases. Quinolone resistance is related to gyrA and/or parC mutations but overexpresion of efflux proteins also plays an important role. With the development of novel and more accurate typing methodologies, an increase in infections caused by non-baumannii Acinetobacter might be observed in the future.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acinetobacter / classification*
  • Acinetobacter / drug effects*
  • Acinetobacter / enzymology
  • Acinetobacter / genetics
  • Acinetobacter Infections / drug therapy*
  • Acinetobacter Infections / microbiology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Cross Infection / drug therapy*
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial* / genetics
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Species Specificity
  • beta-Lactamases / genetics
  • beta-Lactamases / metabolism
  • beta-Lactams / pharmacology
  • beta-Lactams / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • beta-Lactams
  • beta-Lactamases
  • carbapenemase