Acinetobacter baumannii: Insights into epidemiology, pathogenicity and drug resistance

Acinetobacter baumannii , is a Gram-negative opportunistic, multidrug-resistant pathogen causing nosocomial infections. The bacterium is commonly found in all compartments of the environment and clinical settings. The current review focuses on updating the status of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii , which has gained notoriety for developing diverse mechanisms of resistance to some commercially available multiple classes of antibiotics, such as β-lactams, aminoglycosides, quinolones, tetracyclines, polymixins, and so on. Compared to non- baumannii species, the pathogen of interest has developed a broad spectrum of antimicrobial resistance, largely due to unregulated antibiotic usage and its biofilm formation as a critical survival strategy contributing to recalcitrant infection. The review provides a comprehensive analysis of pathogenicity, the impact of clones and other contributing factors to its virulence, survival, and resistance across clinical, environmental, and food-related settings, and also explores the alternative strategies to complement the existing treatment strategies. Addressing this highly adaptable and persistent pathogen requires a concerted effort that integrates genomics, innovative therapeutic strategies, and robust infection control measures. It is essential to adopt integrative alternative strategies to effectively tackle the clinically relevant highly adaptable pathogen. • Comprehensive review on genomic epidemiology and significant drug resistance of A. baumannii , a critical top priority pathogen • Track global spread of CRAB strains associated with ICU outbreaks. • Illustrate the mechanism of biofilm formation, enhancing persistence and antibiotic susceptibility. • Emphasize virulence traits and the factors contributing to pathogenicity of A. baumanii . • Briefing of alternative therapeutic strategies including phytochemicals, phages, and photodynamic therapy.