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Review
. 2024 Mar 23;12(4):644.
doi: 10.3390/microorganisms12040644.

Acinetobacter baumannii, a Multidrug-Resistant Opportunistic Pathogen in New Habitats: A Systematic Review

Omar E Ahuatzin-Flores  1 , Eduardo Torres  2 , Edith Chávez-Bravo  3
Affiliations
Review

Acinetobacter baumannii, a Multidrug-Resistant Opportunistic Pathogen in New Habitats: A Systematic Review

Omar E Ahuatzin-Flores et al. Microorganisms. .

Abstract

In recent years, humanity has begun to face a growing challenge posed by a rise in the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This has resulted in an alarming surge in fatalities and the emergence of increasingly hard-to-manage diseases. Acinetobacter baumannii can be seen as one of these resilient pathogens due to its increasing prevalence in hospitals, its resistance to treatment, and its association with elevated mortality rates. Despite its clinical significance, the scientific understanding of this pathogen in non-hospital settings remains limited. Knowledge of its virulence factors is also lacking. Therefore, in this review, we seek to shed light on the latest research regarding the ecological niches, microbiological traits, and antibiotic resistance profiles of Acinetobacter baumannii. Recent studies have revealed the presence of this bacterium in a growing range of environmental niches, including rivers, treatment plants, and soils. It has also been discovered in diverse food sources such as meat and vegetables, as well as in farm animals and household pets such as dogs and cats. This broader presence of Acinetobacter baumannii, i.e., outside of hospital environments, indicates a significant risk of environmental contamination. As a result, greater levels of awareness and new preventive measures should be promoted to address this potential threat to public health.

Keywords: Acinetobacter baumannii; multi-resistance; natural habitats; reservoirs.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Document collection and analysis process.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Network analysis of keywords with at least three occurrences. VOSviewer version 1.6.20. Copyright 2009–2023 Nees and Jan van Eck and Ludo Waltman.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Environmental distribution of A. baumannii in out-of-hospital habitats.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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