Enigmatic Achromobacter

This review aims to describe the microbiological characteristics, resistant features and pathogenic potential of Achromobacter spp. Achromobacter as an opportunistic pathogen can cause severe and even fatal infections. The current knowledge about molecular basis of clinically significant traits of Achromobacter spp. was critically analyzed. The understanding of pathogenicity factors of Achromobacter spp. are largely based on predictive analysis and the role of the most factors was not confirmed by in vivo and in vitro studies. Achromobacter spp. are intrinsically resistant to many groups of antibiotics and can rapidly acquire an adaptive antibiotic resistance. Only three antibiotics (meropenem, piperacillin/tazobactam, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) have the established breakpoints for Achromobacter spp. There is an unmet need to develop available and accurate methods for species identification of Achromobacter spp.