Hospital-Acquired Infections Due to Gram-Negative Bacteria

Hospital-acquired infections are most commonly associated with mechanical ventilation, invasive medical devices, or surgical procedures. Gram-negative bacteria are responsible for more than 30% of hospital-acquired infections and predominate in hospital-acquired pneumonia. They are highly efficient at up-regulating or acquiring mechanisms of antibiotic drug resistance, especially in the presence of antibiotic selection pressure. This review updates what clinicians should know about these often life-threatening infections.