Global spread of drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in immunocompromised and cancer patients
Abstract
poses a severe threat in healthcare due to its highly adaptive genome and rapid spread of multidrug and extensively drug-resistant traits. Carbapenem resistance exceeds 70% in ICUs, with cancer patients showing even higher rates, including 94.1% of isolates carrying multiple carbapenemase genes such as OXA-23-like, NDM, and KPC. These strains, largely from International Clone II, exhibit strong virulence and environmental persistence. Immunocompromised patients face poor outcomes, with septicemia mortality reaching 49.5% and risk amplified by prolonged hospitalization, mechanical ventilation, invasive procedures, and prior carbapenem exposure. Limited therapeutic options, including toxic last-line colistin, further complicate management. Emerging AI-designed nano-vaccines offer promising preventive strategies for vulnerable populations.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
Infections and bacterial resistance
Antibiotic Use and Resistance
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Annals of Medicine and Surgery
- Publisher
- Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
- Volume
- 88
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 1193–1194
- Publication date
- 6 January 2026
- Language
- EN