Have you ever heard of a relative or friend who was in an intensive care unit (ICU) getting a "hospital-acquired infection"? Sometimes it's because of a type of bacteria we're talking about, which is resistant to many medications and is a bit dangerous. While this bacteria usually doesn't cause much trouble for healthy people, it can be a serious threat to someone who is hospitalized and has a weakened immune system.
What exactly is Acinetobacter baumannii?
Simply put, this is a type of bacteria. They are abundant in the environment, especially in soil and water. In laboratory tests, this bacteria is classified as ``Gram-negative''. That means it looks pink when stained with a certain dye. While that may not be important to us, it is important to doctors.
But the main reason why we are all afraid of this bacteria is its amazing ability. That is its ability to resist antibiotics . We know that when we have a bacterial infection, a doctor gives us antibiotics. But this bacteria, Acinetobacter baumannii, has found ways to resist many antibiotics. We call this multidrug resistance. It is like building different types of bunkers to hide in when an enemy comes. Therefore, doctors have to face a big challenge to cure infections caused by this bacteria.
How is this infection transmitted? Who is most at risk?
This bacterial infection is very rare in the general population outside of a hospital setting. However, it can sometimes occur outside of a hospital setting in people with diabetes, chronic lung disease, or a weakened immune system.
But the greatest risk is for hospitalized patients, especially those who are very ill. Consider this: A person in a situation like this is more likely to develop this infection:
- Those receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
- People who are connected to ventilators.
- People with urinary catheters or venous catheters.
- People who have been in the hospital for a long time.
- People with open surgical wounds.
The main ways this infection can be spread are through the hands of hospital staff, by touching an infected patient, through droplets that enter the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and through medical equipment that has not been properly cleaned.
This bacteria can survive for a long time on surfaces such as hospital equipment and beds. That is why things like cleanliness in hospitals and handwashing by staff are extremely important.
Even the World Health Organization (WHO) has included this `Acinetobacter baumannii` bacteria among the bacteria that pose the greatest threat to humanity. The reason for this is the amazing ability to resist the aforementioned antibiotics.
What are the symptoms of this infection?
The symptoms depend on which part of the body the bacteria has infected. For example, if the lungs are infected, there will be no symptoms, but if the brain is infected, there will be.
Let's explain this further with the table below.
| Type of infection | Description and symptoms |
|---|---|
| Hospital-acquired pneumonia | This is the most common infection caused by this bacteria. It can occur especially in people in the ICU or on ventilators. Symptoms: fever, difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeat, chest pain, and chills. |
| Blood infections (Blood infections / Sepsis) | Bacteria enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body. This is a very dangerous condition. In an ICU, the risk of death from such an infection is about 30%-40%. Symptoms: High fever, chills, rapid breathing, and confusion. |
| Central nervous system infections | Meningitis, an infection of the membranes covering the brain, can occur, especially after brain surgery. Symptoms include high fever, loss of consciousness, fits, stiff neck, headache, and inability to look at bright lights. |
| Other infections | Urinary tract infections, bone infections, skin and soft tissue infections, wound infections, and infections of the inner lining of the heart (endocarditis) can also occur. |
How is this treated?
This is the biggest challenge. Because this bacteria is resistant to many antibiotics, it is very difficult for doctors to choose a treatment.
This is what usually happens:
When your doctor suspects an infection, they will take a sample (e.g. blood, phlegm, or fluid from a wound) from the infected area and send it to a lab. This is called a ``culture'' test.
But it takes several days for the results of that ``(culture)`` to come back. If the patient is critically ill, you can't wait for those results. So the doctor starts treatment based on his best guess , based on his experience with the types of bacteria that are common in the hospital and what antibiotics have been successful recently.
When the culture report comes in a few days, it will clearly state which bacteria are causing the infection, which antibiotics work, and which antibiotics do not. The doctor will then decide whether or not to change the treatment that was started earlier based on that report.
Sometimes, this bacteria is resistant to very powerful, "last resort" antibiotics like ``carbapenem''. In such cases, treatment becomes extremely complicated. Therefore, in such cases, leave the decision on treatment entirely to your doctor.
Take-Home Message
- Acinetobacter baumannii is a serious bacterial infection that is resistant to many antibiotics and is mainly spread in hospitals.
- The highest risk is for critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs), those on ventilators, those with surgical wounds, and those with weakened immune systems.
- Symptoms depend on the part of the body infected (lungs, blood, brain, etc.).
- Treatment is complex and should be managed by your doctor based on laboratory test reports.
- The best way to avoid this infection is to strictly adhere to proper hygiene practices in hospitals (especially hand washing by staff).
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