The name Acinetobacter (from the Greek akineto, "nonmotile") reflects the fact that these bacteria do not have flagella and consequently, lack swimming motility.

A. baumannii is part of the ACB complex (A. calcoaceticus and A. baumannii).

Taxonomy
Family: Moraxellaceae

Natural habitat
Acinetobacter species are widely distributed in nature and have been found in soil, sewage, water and in the hospital environment.
They are able to survive on moist and dry surfaces, and also be present in foodstuff and on the healthy human skin.

Clinical significance
A. baumannii ventilator-associated pneumonia and bloodstream infections have been documented to be associated with a high degree of mortality and morbidity.

Particular manifestations of A. baumannii are its implication in infections in soldiers that have been severly wounded in war and in victims of natural disasters.

Although severe infections with A. baumannii have been documented, Infections like, respiratory, urinary tract, wound infections, abscesses and meningitis in debilitated humans,
colonization is much more frequent than infection, and differentiation between these conditions can be difficult.

Still, although they are uncommon, community-acquired pneumonia with A. baumannii occur.

The ability of this microorganism to acquire antimicrobial multiresistance and his high capacity for survival on most environmental surfaces has led to an increase concern regarding hospital acquired infections.

A possible mechanism contributing to survival of A. baumannii is its ability to form a biofilm-like structure at the air/liquid interface, known as a pellicle.