Fatal Nosocomial Infection with Extensively Resistant, Hypervirulent Acinetobacter

Acinetobacter baumanii is a typical critical care “pest” in that it causes infections with high degrees of morbidity and mortality in severely ill patients, especially those who are immunosuppressed. However, a recent publication has brought to view the fact that a clade B strain of Acinetobacter baumanii was associated with six deaths in a hospital setting. This new clade B strain is notable because it is extensively drug resistant and is hyper virulent, resulting in fatal outcomes.

The major significance of this report lies in the fact that these patients, who had relatively minor underlying illnesses, eventually died from the Acinetobacter baumanii infection, which is a rare event in itself. Given that the models used in understanding the clinical progress and epidemiology of this infection are pretty old, and there may have been significant changes in the pathogen’s ability to adapt and mutate, it is time to have a re-look at the epidemiology of Acinetonacter baumanii infections.

Jones CL, Clancy M, Honnold C, et al. A Fatal Outbreak of anEmerging Clone of Extensively Drug-Resistant _Acinetobacter baumannii_with Enhanced Virulence. Clin Infect Dis. 1st published online 29 Mar2015. Article abstract available at: http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2015/03/28/cid.civ225.abstract.