Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in veterinary medicine--emergence of an underestimated pathogen?
- Journal:
- Berliner und Munchener tierarztliche Wochenschrift
- Year:
- 2014
- Authors:
- Müller, Stefanie et al.
Plain-English summary
There is growing concern about a type of bacteria called Acinetobacter baumannii, which is becoming resistant to many antibiotics and is increasingly found in animals. While we know a lot about other resistant bacteria like MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus), A. baumannii has not received much attention in veterinary medicine, even though it is being detected more often in clinical samples from pets. This situation is worrying because A. baumannii can spread easily and may pose a risk to both animals and their owners, especially as pets are spending more time in close contact with people. The review highlights the need for more research on this bacteria in animals to understand how it spreads and how to manage it effectively. Overall, the findings suggest that A. baumannii could become a significant concern in veterinary medicine, similar to other well-known resistant bacteria.
Abstract
The proportion of multidrug resistant bacteria causing infections in animals has continuously been increasing. While the relevance of ESBL (extended spectrum beta-lactamase)-producing Enterobacteriaceae spp. and MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is unquestionable, knowledge about multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in veterinary medicine is scarce. This is a worrisome situation, as A. baumannii are isolated from veterinary clinical specimens with rising frequency. The remarkable ability of A. baumannii to develop multidrug resistance and the high risk of transmission are known in human medicine for years. Despite this, data regarding A. baumannii isolates of animal origin are missing. Due to the changing role of companion animals with closer contact between animal and owner, veterinary intensive care medicine is steadily developing. It can be assumed that the number of "high risk" patients with an enhanced risk for hospital acquired infections will be rising simultaneously. Thus, development and spread of multidrug resistant pathogens is envisioned to rise. It is possible, that A. baumannii will evolve into a veterinary nosocomial pathogen similar to ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae and MRSA. The lack of attention paid to A. baumannii in veterinary medicine is even more worrying, as first reports indicate a transmission between humans and animals. Essential questions regarding the role of livestock, especially as a potential source of multidrug resistant isolates, remain unanswered. This review summarizes the current knowledge on A. baumannii in veterinary medicine for the first time. It underlines the utmost significance of further investigations of A. baumannii animal isolates, particularly concerning epidemiology and resistance mechanisms.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25872253/