title: Community-acquired Acinetobacter baumannii: clinical characteristics, epidemiology and pathogenesis.
abstract: Community-acquired Acinetobacter baumannii (CA-Ab) is a rare but serious cause of community-acquired pneumonia in tropical regions of the world. CA-Ab infections predominantly affect individuals with risk factors, which include excess alcohol consumption, diabetes mellitus, smoking and chronic lung disease. CA-Ab pneumonia presents as a surprisingly fulminant course and is characterized by a rapid onset of fever, severe respiratory symptoms and multi-organ dysfunction, with a mortality rate reported as high as 64%. It is unclear whether the distinct clinical syndrome caused by CA-Ab is because of host predisposing factors or unique bacterial characteristics, or a combination of both. Deepening our understanding of the drivers of overwhelming CA-Ab infection will provide important insights into preventative and therapeutic strategies.
authors: Department of Microbiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
authors: Carina
authors: C
authors: Dexter
authors: Gerald L
authors: GL
authors: Murray
authors: Ian T
authors: IT
authors: Paulsen
authors: Anton Y
authors: AY
authors: Peleg
mesh_terms: D000151:Acinetobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: A. baumannii; CA-Ab; community-acquired pneumonia; ethanol