From food to hospital: we need to talk about Acinetobacter spp.

Abstract

Some species of the genus Acinetobacter are admittedly important hospital pathogens. Additionally, various animal and plant foods have been linked to the presence of Acinetobacter, including resistant strains. However, due to isolation difficulties and the lack of official standard methods, there is a dearth of work and epidemiological data on foodborne diseases caused by this microorganism. Considering that Acinetobacter spp. may represent a serious public health problem, especially because of their resistance to carbapenems and colistin, and because of the fact that these pathogens may transfer resistance genes to other bacteria, studies are needed to evaluate the pathogenicity of both food and clinical isolates and to search for them using control strategies, such as the adoption of more efficient disinfection measures and use of antimicrobial substances (AMS). In contrast, AMS production by strains of the genus Acinetobacter has already been described, and its potential for application against other Gram-negative food or clinical pathogens, reveals a new field to be explored.

Characterization of Acinetobacter baumannii Isolated from Raw Milk

“…A. baumannii can produce biofilms on biotic surfaces, including epithelial cells, and on abiotic surfaces, including glass and the medical equipment used in ICUs. Most of the A. baumannii isolates from our study were consistent with the findings Malta et al [ 63 ], who found that 100% of A. baumannii isolated from goat milk formed biofilm. Several studies have also emphasized the severity of A. baumannii biofilm-associated infections, such as ventilator-associated pneumonia and catheter-related infections, both of which are resistant to antibiotic therapy and are most frequently caused by A. baumannii biofilms.…”

Formic acid, an organic acid food preservative, induces viable-but-non-culturable state, and triggers new Antimicrobial Resistance traits in Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae

“…It was shown that it is also possible for A. baumannii to enter the hospital environment via kitchens or food handed in by the visitors ( Campos et al, 2019 ). According to the findings of several investigations, Acinetobacter species may be found both in the kitchens of hospitals and in commonly consumed foods ( Malta et al, 2020 ). Food-borne infections caused by these microbes are under-researched owing to the challenges in isolation, as well as in establishing the source of infection.…”

“…The food isolates of K. pneumoniae and A. baumannii isolated from raw vegetables, street food, drinks, and raw and ready-to-eat (RTE) food from the supermarket were equally virulent as the clinical isolates from hospital patients ( Hartantyo et al, 2020 ; Puspanadan et al, 2012 ; Budiarso et al, 2021 ). Since ESKAPE are known hospital pathogens, they could be a potential source of contamination in the hospital foods ( Peleg et al, 2009 ; Malta et al, 2020 ), which were demonstrated in the hospital kitchen and visitor’s food ( Campos et al, 2019 ), infant milk, and utensils in a public hospital ( Araújo et al, 2015 ), and more recently, hospital water ( Hayward et al, 2022 ).…”

Infections Due to Acinetobacter baumannii–calcoaceticus Complex: Escalation of Antimicrobial Resistance and Evolving Treatment Options

“…may spread via hand carriage, environmental sources, animals, contaminated food, water, or soil, hospitals, or long-term care facilities (LTCFs). 1,[22][23][24] Acinetobacter spp. display high levels of AMR, and MDR (defined as nonsusceptibility to at least one agent in !…”