Beyond the Hospital Walls: Community-acquired Acinetobacter baumannii Infections Presenting as Pyothorax Lung Abscess and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbation with Bronchiectasis

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Acinetobacter baumannii is increasingly recognized as a nosocomial pathogen and is rarely reported as a cause of community-acquired infections, especially in tropical and subtropical climates.This case series describes three patients with community-acquired Acinetobacter baumannii (CAAB) infections with diverse pulmonary presentations.The first patient presented with pyopneumothorax, the second had a lung abscess, and the third had an infective exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the background of underlying bronchiectasis.Microbiological confirmation was achieved in all three cases.These three patients had different clinical presentations and comorbid conditions that influenced the course and management of the disease.Early clinical suspicion, judicious selection of targeted antimicrobial agents, and multidisciplinary management helped achieve successful outcomes in all three cases.This case series highlights the importance of A. baumannii as a causative agent of community-acquired respiratory infections and should be considered as a possible cause in patients with severe respiratory illness, especially in tropical regions.