ACINETOBACTER-CALCOACETICUS - NOSOCOMIAL PATHOGEN WITH AN UNUSUAL SEASONAL PATTERN

Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var. anitratus (formerly Herellea vaginicola) and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus var. Iwoffi (formerly Mima polymorpha) are nonfermentative aerobic gram-negative rods that are widely dispersed in nature and are commonly part of a human’s normal flora. Up to 25% of normal individuals may harbor A. calcoaceticus on the skin, and it is occasionally found in the respiratory tract as well [1, 2]. The role of A. calcoaceticus as an opportunistic pathogen is well established, and an extensive review of clinical infections associated with A. calcoaceticus has recently been published [3]. Several outbreaks of nosocomial infections have been reported, often in association with contamination of hospital equipment and the hands of personnel [4, 6]. In addition, many isolations of A. calcoaceticus in clinical microbiology laboratories represent skin colonization or contamination rather than true infection [3, 7, 8]. We have reviewed nosocomial infections caused by A. calcoaceticus reported through the National Nosocomial Infections Study (NNIS) to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) over the last four years. These data, which reveal, among other things, an unusual pattern of seasonal incidence, are reported below. © 1979 by The University of Chicago.