Treatment of Acinetobacter baumannii

Abstract

Acinetobacter baumannii is a Priority 1 pathogen under the WHO list for research and discovery of new antibiotics. The epidemiology of the pathogen suggests its relevance as an important “healthcare-associated” pathogen—with the most common clinical syndrome being ventilator-associated pneumonia. Rising rates of carbapenem resistance in this pathogen have necessitated re-purposing of old drugs, use of high-dose regimens, and newer antimicrobial options. Combination therapy for carbapenem-resistant isolates, especially in sicker patients, is now advocated. Here, we describe the traditional treatment options and selection of drugs in multidrug- resistant infections, along with a brief review of the evidence followed by emerging treatment options.