Acinetobacter baumannii: A current review of virulence factors and their clinical significance

The alarming rate of Acinetobacter baumannii infections necessitates immediate attention to tackle this issue. The emergence of multidrug-resistant strains has greatly complicated the treatment, making it a challenging endeavour. This problem has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with higher mortality rates observed among COVID-19 patients infected with multidrug-resistant A. baumannii during treatment. Infections caused by A. baumannii result in a range of health complications, such as urinary tract infections, wound infections, bacteraemia, pneumonia, meningitis, heightened morbidity, and in severe cases, even mortality. The virulence factors and mechanisms of pathogenesis of A. baumannii are complex and still encompassing areas of ongoing investigation. Therefore, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge regarding key virulence factors, including the secretion of proteases, lipases, catalase, and motility, which contribute to the pathogenesis of A. baumannii infection. Additionally, the review explores the organism’s resistance and persistence strategy, primarily attributed to its remarkable ability to form biofilms on various surfaces, rendering complete eradication from medical devices an arduous task. Overall, this review emphasizes the importance of A. baumannii as a significant pathogen in healthcare settings and underscores the need for continued research to develop more effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of A. baumannii infections.