title: Acinetobacter baumannii: an emerging opportunistic pathogen.
abstract: Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen primarily associated with hospital-acquired infections. The recent increase in incidence, largely associated with infected combat troops returning from conflict zones, coupled with a dramatic increase in the incidence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains, has significantly raised the profile of this emerging opportunistic pathogen. Herein, we provide an overview of the pathogen, discuss some of the major factors that have led to its clinical prominence and outline some of the novel therapeutic strategies currently in development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Cork Institute of Technology, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Aoife
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Donoghue
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feeney
authors.forename: Roy D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Sleator
mesh_terms: D000151:Acinetobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*