Resumo

SALAZAR DE VEGASA¹, Elsa Zuleima   e  NIEVES², Beatríz . Acinetobacter spp.:: Microbiological, clinical and epidemiological aspects. Rev. Soc. Ven. Microbiol. [online]. 2005, vol.25, n.2, pp.64-71. ISSN 1315-2556.

Abstract The Acinetobacter species are widely disseminated in the nature, being water and soil their main habitat. Acinetobacter spp. have been isolated from a great variety of sources including lactic products, poultries and frozen food, and others such as skin, conjunctiva, human milk, throat and urethra of healthy subjects. A. baumannii is so far the most relevant specie in colonization and infection of critical or immunosuppressed patients. It has been isolated from a great variety of nosocomial infections, including bacteremia, secondary meningitis or urinary tract infections; but, it is the main causative agent of nosocomial pneumonia, specially in patients with ventilator associated pneumonia, in intensive care units. Such infections are usually difficult to treat because these bacteria present high levels of resistance to different antibacterial agents. Due to the worldwide relevance that has acquired this microorganism in the latest years, the present review provides an overview of current knowledge, paying special attention to the actual taxonomy, epidemiology and the role as nosocomial pathogen

Palavras-chave : Acinetobacter; taxonomy; epidemiology; resistance.