Acinetobacter Baumannii Infections

Acinetobacter baumannii are bacteria commonly found in soil and water. Recently, a multidrug-resistant strain of the bacteria has been a prominent cause of infections among wounded American service members returning from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. The germ thrives in hospitals with contamination found in virtually every facility treating wounded.

During January 1, 2002--August 31, 2004, military health officials identified 102 patients with blood cultures that grew A. baumannii at military medical facilities treating service members injured in Afghanistan and the Iraq/Kuwait region. All of these cases met the criteria for A. baumannii bloodstream infection on the basis of criteria established by CDC's National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (NNIS) system.

The bacteria have infected patients at hospitals in Europe, reportedly killing dozens in France and Britain. It's also been discovered that hospital workers and members of soldiers' families can be infected.

Blame for the spread of the bacteria has been at least partially attributed to wide use of broad-spectrum antibiotics causing virulence and unsanitary treatment locations. The source of the bacteria is not clearly known and under investigation. Some evidence suggests that A. baumannii originally was introduced into the medical evacuation chain from Germany on contaminated equipment.

In the meantime, hospitals are diligently trying to halt the proliferation of the germ and disinfect contaminated facilities.

Tip: Marcia Hascall


[Update 01/30/07]

Steve Silberman, author of the Wired piece on A. Baumannii, comments that the germ is not "commonly found in soil and water" as stated by the CDC. In fact, that misconception is the key reason for the delay in searching for the true source of the military infections. Disputing the contention that A. baumannii is common was a main point of Silberman's article.