Tracking Acinetobacter baumannii in Critical Care Units: Environmental Surveillance and One Health Strategies for AMR Prevention

Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is a bacterium causing infections in hospitals, especially in intensive care units (ICUs). This bacterium persists in hospital environments and quickly becomes resistant to medicines. This review details its behavior, spread, and control in hospital care areas, focusing on environmental monitoring and One Health strategies to stop antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We explain methods to sample and grow bacteria for identification, using quantitative PCR and whole-genome sequencing for rapid detection. We discuss data management frameworks and bioinformatics pipelines that help analyze data and visualize bacterial spread. Control measures include careful cleaning, environmental decontamination machines, and antimicrobial stewardship programs. The One Health perspective emphasizes the connection between humans, animals, and nature in controlling bacteria. Challenges include limited lab space, varied data collection methods, and need for new testing approaches. This report suggests future research in metagenomic surveillance, machine learning-driven risk modeling, and pangenome-guided drug discovery. By integrating laboratory, clinical, and environmental science, this report provides a comprehensive plan to control A. baumannii in ICUs and address antimicrobial resistance.