Yehya Amani, Ezzeddine Zeinab, Chakkour Mohamed, Dhaini Zahraa, Bou Saba Miriama S, Bou Saba Anthony S, Nohra Lea, Nassar Nagham B, Yassine Mahdi, Bahmad Hisham F, Ghssein Ghassan
Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
High Council for Scientific Research and Publication (HCSRP), Islamic University of Lebanon (IUL), Khalde, Lebanon.
Front Microbiol. 2025 May 12;16:1565965. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1565965. eCollection 2025.
, a highly adaptive and formidable nosocomial pathogen, has emerged as a symbol of modern medicine's struggle against multidrug resistance (MDR). As a Gram-negative dweller in moist hospital environments, has proven its ability to colonize the most vulnerable-critically ill patients-leaving behind a trail of infections highlighted by high morbidity and mortality and rendering nearly all antibiotics ineffective. This literature review aims to provide an in-depth, comprehensive overview of microbiological features, virulence factors, clinical manifestations, epidemiology, and antibiotic resistance mechanisms of . It also highlights the different diagnostic approaches, possible treatment strategies, and infection control, as well as the profound public health burden this pathogen imposes. The genus has undergone a pivotal taxonomic journey and categorization. In addition, the intricate virulence mechanisms and factors of , including but not limited to outer membrane components and nutrient acquisition systems, have contributed to its pathogenicity and severe clinical manifestations ranging from respiratory tract infections and meningitis to urinary tract infections, skin infections, and bloodstream infections. This review also describes the epidemiological trend of established by its global prevalence and distribution, risk factors, hospital-acquired vs. community-acquired infections, and its geographical variations. In terms of antibiotic resistance, this pathogen has demonstrated resilience to a wide range of first-line and last-resort antibiotics due to its different evasion mechanisms. The current diagnostic approaches, treatment strategies, and infection control measures are further analyzed in detail, underscoring the need for prompt and precise identification of to guide appropriate therapy and reinforce the optimal approaches to limit its transmission and control outbreaks. Finally, the review addresses the substantial public health implications, reflecting on the hindrance that brings to healthcare systems, and the urgent need for global surveillance, effective infection control protocols, innovative research, and therapeutic approaches to mitigate its global threat.
作为一种高度适应性强且可怕的医院病原体,已成为现代医学对抗多重耐药性(MDR)斗争的象征。作为一种存在于潮湿医院环境中的革兰氏阴性菌,已证明其能够在最脆弱的重症患者中定植,留下一系列以高发病率和死亡率为特征的感染,几乎使所有抗生素失效。这篇文献综述旨在对该病原体的微生物学特征、毒力因子、临床表现、流行病学及抗生素耐药机制进行深入、全面的概述。它还强调了不同的诊断方法、可能的治疗策略和感染控制,以及这种病原体所带来的巨大公共卫生负担。该属经历了关键的分类学历程和归类。此外,该病原体复杂的毒力机制和因素,包括但不限于外膜成分和营养获取系统,导致了其致病性以及从呼吸道感染、脑膜炎到尿路感染、皮肤感染和血流感染等严重的临床表现。本综述还描述了该病原体的流行病学趋势,包括其全球流行率和分布、危险因素、医院获得性感染与社区获得性感染以及地理差异。在抗生素耐药性方面,由于其不同的逃避机制,这种病原体已对广泛的一线和最后手段抗生素表现出耐药性。对当前的诊断方法、治疗策略和感染控制措施进行了进一步详细分析,强调了及时、准确鉴定该病原体以指导适当治疗并加强限制其传播和控制暴发的最佳方法的必要性。最后,该综述阐述了其对公共卫生的重大影响,反思了该病原体给医疗系统带来的阻碍,以及全球监测、有效的感染控制方案、创新研究和治疗方法以减轻其全球威胁的迫切需求。