Acinetobacter: an underrated foodborne pathogen?

Authors

  • Angelo Maximo Batista de Amorim Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Janaína dos Santos Nascimento Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.8418

Keywords:

Acinetobacter baumannii, food, multiple drug resistance

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of foodborne diseases observed in developing countries has been linked to a rise in the consumption of raw foods. However, unlike the classical pathogens that are commonly implicated in foodborne illnesses, members of the genus Acinetobacter are rarely associated with diarrheal disease, probably because of the difficulty in isolating these Gram-negative bacteria from food sources. Nevertheless, several species of Acinetobacter, especially A. baumannii, possess many of the characteristics associated with successful pathogens and exhibit a prodigious ability to acquire the multiple-drug resistance (MDR) phenotype. In this mini-review, we summarize the epidemiological data relating to MDR Acinetobacter and consider evidence suggesting that contaminated dairy products, along with raw fruit and vegetables, constitute extra-hospital reservoirs of this underrated pathogen, and may represent an increased risk to immunocompromised individuals and young children in healthcare settings.

Author Biographies

Angelo Maximo Batista de Amorim, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Laboratory of Microbiology

Janaína dos Santos Nascimento, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Laboratory of Microbiology

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Published

2017-02-28

How to Cite

1.
Amorim AMB de, Nascimento J dos S (2017) Acinetobacter: an underrated foodborne pathogen?. J Infect Dev Ctries 11:111–114. doi: 10.3855/jidc.8418

Issue

Section

Reviews