ISSN: 0973-7510

E-ISSN: 2581-690X

Review Article | Open Access
Kalyani Kuruva1 , Aarthi Vara2, M. Swarajya Lakshmi3, Mukesh Kumar Dharmalingam Jothinathan4, Nagaraja Mudhigeti5 and Koppala Rekha1
1Department of Microbiology, Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences – SIMATS, Thandalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
2Department of Microbiology, Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
3Department of Microbiology, Mamata Academy of Medical Sciences, Bachupally, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
4Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Medical College, Thandalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
5Department of Microbiology, Sri Balaji Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Article Number: 10558 | © The Author(s). 2026
J Pure Appl Microbiol. 2026;20(2):1121-1137. https://doi.org/10.22207/JPAM.20.2.60
Received: 04 May 2025 | Accepted: 27 April 2026 | Published online: 05 June 2026
Issue online: June 2026
Abstract

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) poses a significant healthcare challenge worldwide because of its role in bloodstream infections, wound infections, and ventilator-associated pneumonia. A particularly concerning trait is its ability to develop multidrug-resistance and its unique capacity to endure extreme conditions that other microorganisms cannot withstand. This review delves into the microbiology of Acinetobacter spp., exploring their characteristics, molecular classification, and mechanisms of carbapenem-resistance, including the production of carbapenem-hydrolyzing β-lactamases (notably Oxacillinase (OXA-type), efflux pump activity, alterations in porin channels, and horizontal gene transfer. This paper emphasizes the rapid global dissemination of Acinetobacter spp. due to antibiotic misuse and improper treatment methods. Research also reveals that treatment options for these infections are severely limited, necessitating the development of new and innovative treatment strategies. To curb the spread of Acinetobacter spp., there is a pressing need to focus on advancements in diagnostics, control measures, antimicrobial stewardship programs, and new therapies such as vaccines and phage therapy. It is crucial to enhance disease diagnostics, invest in research and development of effective new drugs, and collaborate internationally to share knowledge about CRAB.

Keywords

Hospital-acquired Infections, β-lactamases, Carbapenem-resistance, Acinetobacter baumannii, Multidrug-resistance, Antimicrobial Stewardship

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© The Author(s) 2026. Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License which permits unrestricted use, sharing, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.