AUTHOR=Fahy S. , O’Connor J. A. , Lucey B. , Sleator R. D. 

TITLE=Hospital Reservoirs of Multidrug Resistant Acinetobacter Species—The Elephant in the Room!

JOURNAL=British Journal of Biomedical Science

VOLUME=80

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/journals/british-journal-of-biomedical-science/articles/10.3389/bjbs.2023.11098

DOI=10.3389/bjbs.2023.11098

ISSN=2474-0896

ABSTRACT=<p>Environmental contamination is estimated to contribute to up to 20% of all hospital acquired infections. <italic>Acinetobacter baumannii</italic> is an example of one the most prevalent opportunistic pathogens causing severe and persistent infections in immunocompromised patients. It has proven ability to form biofilms, has significant associated multi-drug resistance and is able to transfer mobile genetic elements to other clinically relevant pathogens. All of these factors point to a definite utility of <italic>A. baumannii</italic> as an indicator organism for effectiveness of decontamination regimens as well as environmental screening. There is an increased cost, both financial and clinical, associated with multi drug resistant organisms, carbapenem resistant <italic>A. baumannii</italic>. With a dearth of new antimicrobials in development, now is the time to radically transform and lead the introduction of scientifically based environmental screening and microbiological verified decontamination to control the dissemination of further resistance.</p>