Why are we afraid of Acinetobacter baumannii?

摘要

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii, defined as resistance to three or more different antibiotic classes, is rapidly becoming a focus of attention of the medical and scientific communities [l]. The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) identified A. baumannii among the top seven pathogens threatening our healthcare-delivery system and as a prime example of unmet medical need [2], The clinical impact and molecular basis of the 'MDR phenotype' have also made A. baumannii a study of 'bug and drug' interactions at every level, as summarized elegantly herein by Gootz et al. [3]. We hope to address the following questions in this editorial: why are we so afraid of MDR A. baumannii and is A. baumannii becoming a very 'successful pathogen'?