Everyone Healthy Library
Acinetobacter Infections
Condition / disease reference page from the Everyone Healthy database.
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Connected health information
Explore this condition in a clear order
Condition overview
Attributes
Commonalityis uncommon
Commonalityis common
Linked signs and symptoms
4Each sign/symptom opens its own page and links back to related conditions.
Linked drugs / medications
4Medication information is educational only. A doctor or pharmacist should advise whether any medicine is appropriate.
Treatments, therapies and supportive options
7Grouped by treatment type. These are educational database links, not personal treatment recommendations. Evidence labels are shown only where stored in the EH database.
Surgery
1Medical therapy
3Lifestyle changes
1Behavioural changes
1Linked diagnostic tests and investigations
29These are pulled from both EH diagnostic-test link tables, including the older large test-link table.
- ACTH Stimulation Test
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Concentration
- Bacterial Culture Studies
- Blood Tests
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Albumin Concentration
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Glucose Concentration
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Concentration
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Electrophoresis
- Cholesterol Concentration
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- D-Dimer Blood Test
- erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
- Ferritin Concentration
- Fibrin Degradation Products (FDPs, Fibrin Split Products, FSPs, Fibrin Breakdown Products, Fbps)
- Fibrin Monomers Test
- Fibrinopeptide A (FPA) Action Assay
- Glucagon Concentration Test
- Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Concentration
- Glucose, Blood (Fasting Blood Glucose)
- Glucose, Blood (Random Blood Glucose Test)
- haptoglobin (Hp) concentration
- Insulin-Induced Hypoglycemia Test
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Plasminogen Activity
- Potassium Concentration (K, Blood)
- Protein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- Ultrasound
- Urine glucose concentration
- White Blood Cell (WBC) Count
Biological markers/agents
23This visual map shows biological markers/agents reported as increased or decreased with this condition. These are educational relationships only; test results must be interpreted by a qualified clinician because ranges vary by lab, method, age, sex and clinical context.
Often increased
21- AlanineReference range exampleChild (10 - 16y): 1,500–7,000 µmol/LLinked diagnostic testsBacterial Culture Studies, Urine Amino Acid Concentration
- Albumin (Cerebrospinal Fluid, CSF)Reference range exampleAll: 10–35 mg/dL; All: 56–76 %Linked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid Albumin Concentration, Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Electrophoresis
- Alpha-1 Antintrypsin (AAT)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 90–215 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsAlpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Concentration
- Alpha-1-Globulin (Blood, Serum)Reference range exampleAll: 0.1–0.3 gm/dLLinked diagnostic testsProtein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- Alpha-2-Globulin (Blood, Serum)Reference range exampleAll: 0.6–1 gm/dLLinked diagnostic testsProtein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Total ProteinReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 15–45 mg/dL; Child (< 10y): 15–70 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid Protein Concentration
- Cholesterol (Total)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 75–180 mg/dL; Adult ( > 16y): 0–190 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsCholesterol Concentration
- D-DimerReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–240 µg/LLinked diagnostic testsD-Dimer Blood Test
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation RateReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 0–20 mm/Hr; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 0–15 mm/HrLinked diagnostic testserythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
- FerritinReference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 7–140 µg/L; Adult ( > 16y), Female: 18–160 µg/LLinked diagnostic testsFerritin Concentration
- Fibrin MonomersReference range example0–10,000 µg/LLinked diagnostic testsFibrin Monomers Test
- Fibrin Split ProductsReference range exampleAll: 0–1 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsFibrin Degradation Products (FDPs, Fibrin Split Products
- Fibrinopeptide A (FPA)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 0.7–3.1 mg/mL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 0.35–2.5 mg/mLLinked diagnostic testsFibrinopeptide A (FPA) Action Assay
- GlucagonReference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 0–147 pg/mL; Adult ( > 16y): 20–110 pg/mLLinked diagnostic testsGlucagon Concentration Test
- Glucose (Blood)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 3–6.1 mmol/L; Adult ( > 16y): 0–6.1 mmol/LLinked diagnostic testsfasting Blood Glucose Test, Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT
- haptoglobin (Hp)Reference range example45–200 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testshaptoglobin (Hp) concentration
- PlasminogenReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 65–153 %; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 70–120 %Linked diagnostic testsPlasminogen Activity
- Potassium (K, Blood)AbbreviationKReference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 4.1–5.3 mEq/L; Child (0 - 16y): 3.4–4.7 mEq/LLinked diagnostic testsPotassium Concentration (K, Blood)
- PrealbuminReference range exampleAll: 2–7 %Linked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid Protein Electrophoresis
- Urine glucoseReference range example0–2.5; Adult ( > 16y): 0–2.5 mmol/dayLinked diagnostic testsUrine glucose concentration
- White Blood Cell (WBC)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 4.5–10.5 million/mL; Adult ( > 16y): 3.2–10 million/mLLinked diagnostic testsWhite Blood Cell (WBC) Count
Often decreased
2- Glucose (Cerebrospinal Fluid)Reference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 65–85 mg/dL; Adult ( > 16y): 50–72 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid Glucose Concentration
- Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 10.1–18.5 U/gHb; Birth - 2wks: 12–23 U/gHbLinked diagnostic testsGlucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Concentration
Introduction / full article
Acinetobacter Infections
Acinetobacter Infections
Acinetobacter is a genus of bacteria of which there are at least 25 different species. They are quite common in nature, and often dwell in soil, water and sewerage.
Acinetobacter baumannii is the species most commonly associated with hospital outbreaks, accounting for around 80% of infections. It is particularly problematic due to its ability to survive on dry surfaces and human skin, as well as its resistance against a number of cleaning agents and antibiotics.
Although they are rare, infections caused by Acinetobacter species are very severe. They can give rise to pneumonia, as well as infections of:
· The skin;
· The urinary tract;
· Any organ system – in particular, the respiratory system;
· The bloodstream; and
· Open wounds.
Causes
Usually, healthy individuals are not susceptible to illness due to colonization of Acinetobacter bacteria. Infection occurs primarily in those whose health is compromised by a form of pre-existing illness.
Risk factors for Acinetobacter infections include:
· Being of poor health and/or in a healthcare setting;
· Undergoing invasive surgical procedures;
· Using artificial respiration methods; and
· Receipt of blood/organ transplants.
Open wounds exposed to dirt or water containing Acinetobacter organisms can easily become contaminated. The bacteria can also be spread by skin-to-skin contact between individuals, or contact with contaminated surfaces in a number of healthcare environments.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Acinetobacter infection vary between individuals, but have been known to include:
· Pneumonia;
· Serious blood or wound infections;
· Decreased oxygen content in the blood; and
· Increased respiratory and/or heart rate.
Treatment
Acinetobacter organisms are innately resistant to a large number of multi-drug treatments and antibiotics, rendering the infections caused difficult to treat. Further, the extent of their resistance to these substances varies between species.
For this reason, doctors will identify and prescribe special treatment options for Acinetobacter infections on an individual basis.
Prevention is generally regarded as the best way to control outbreaks of Acinetobacter infections. Preventative measures recommended for those in contact with infected patients include:
· Regular, thorough washing of hands; and
· Wearing of relevant protective garments, such as gowns and gloves.