Acinetobacter radioresistens

Acinetobacter radioresistens is a nonfermenting, Gram-negative, aerobic coccobacilli, belonging to the genus of bacteria known as Acinetobacter. The Acinetobacter genus is part of the Moraxellaceae family and includes more than 50 species [1].

In some publications, Acinetobacter radioresistens is classified as a human pathogen with the designation “low pathogenic”[1][2]. The prevalence and pathogenicity of A. radioresistens are largely unknown [3]. In the specialist literature, so far only a few cases have been found of the pathogen having been isolated from patient samples (i.e. blood, tracheobronchial secretion) [3].

Infection with Acinetobacter radioresistens has been shown to cause:

Acinetobacter radioresistens are ubiquitous. The bacteria are particularly common in soil
and water but are also found in animals and on human skin, as well as in the immediate
hospital environment [3][4][5].

Relevance of pathogen in transmission in endoscopy

  • Gastroenterology: Not relevant

  • Pulmonology: Low

  • Ear, nose, and throat: Not relevant

  • Urology: Not relevant

Relevance for endoscope surveillance

  • High concern organism

Transmission route

Transmission occurs through direct or indirect contact, e.g. via contaminated materials
and objects, as well as via the hands of medical professionals [3].

Resistance to antibiotics

The documented isolates all showed sensitivity to carbapenems. The clinical relevance
of the pathogen in connection to antibiotic resistance is based on its ability to express the blaOXA-23 gene, a class-D carbapenemase [3]. As an unrecognized reservoir for carbapenemases, Acinetobacter radioresistens could contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance in medical facilities [3].

Sources and further readings

  1. Wong, D et al. Clinical and pathophysiological overview of Acinetobacter
    infections: a century of challenges. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 2017; 30: 409–447.

  2. Bundesamt für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit (German Federal
    Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety). Recommendation of the ZKBS
    (Central Committee on Biological Safety) for the risk assessment of
    Acinetobacter radioresistens as a donor or recipient organism according to
    Section 5(1) of GenTSV (Germany’s Genetic Engineering Safety Ordinance). Az.
    45241.0144 June 2015.

  3. Wang, T. et al. Acinetobacter radioresistens infection with bacteremia and
    pneumonia. ID Cases. 2019; 15:e00495.

  4. Atrouni, A. A. et al. Reservoirs of Non-baumannii Acinetobacter Species. Front.
    Microbiol. 2016; 7:49.

  5. Berlau, J. et al. Distribution of Acinetobacter species on skin of healthy humans.
    Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1999, 18(3):179–83.