Reply #5: yikes a quick yahoo search [View All]

[maddezmom]

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii is a pleomorphic aerobic gram-negative bacillus (similar in appearance to Haemophilus influenzae on Gram stain) commonly isolated from the hospital environment and hospitalized patients. A baumannii is a water organism and preferentially colonizes aquatic environments. This organism is often cultured from hospitalized patients’ sputum or respiratory secretions, wounds, and urine. Acinetobacter also colonizes irrigating solutions and intravenous solutions.

Acinetobacter is an organism of low virulence, but it is capable of causing infection. Most Acinetobacter isolates recovered from hospitalized patients, particularly those recovered from respiratory secretions and urine, represent colonization rather than infection.

Acinetobacter infections are uncommon, but, when they occur, they usually involve organ systems with a high fluid content (eg, respiratory tract, peritoneal fluid, urinary tract), manifesting as nosocomial pneumonia, infections associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), or catheter-associated bacteruria. The presence of the organism in respiratory secretions in intubated patients nearly always represents colonization. Acinetobacter pneumonias occur as outbreaks and are usually associated with colonized respiratory support equipment or fluids.

more: http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3456.htm