# Evolution of Antimicrobial Resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Romania: A Narrative Review of Published Data (2001–2024)

**Authors:** Elena Roxana Buzilă, Olivia Simona Dorneanu, Luminița Smaranda Iancu, Felicia Trofin, Alexandru Duhaniuc, Costin Damian, Cătălina Luncă

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms14020429 · 2026-02-11

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how antibiotic resistance in two dangerous bacteria has changed in Romania over 20 years.

## Contribution

The study provides a comprehensive narrative review of antimicrobial resistance trends in A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa in Romania from 2001 to 2024.

## Key findings

- There is temporal variability in resistance rates of A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa in Romania.
- Differences in resistance patterns were observed across distinct time periods.
- The study highlights the need for national surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship.

## Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance constitutes a major global public health challenge, with Romania among the European countries affected. Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as priority pathogens, are frequently implicated in healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), including pneumonia, surgical site infections, urinary tract infections, and bacteremia. We have narratively synthesized surveillance studies published in different regions of Romania, encompassing date whit the period 2001–2024. A total of 13 studies reporting data on P. aeruginosa (2003–2024) and 15 studies on A. baumannii (2001–2024) were included. The strains were isolated from various pathological products, including urine, sputum, tracheobronchial aspirate, blood, bronchoalveolar lavage, pus, peritoneal fluid, and cerebrospinal fluid, from hospitalized patients in different clinical departments. This review evaluated long-term trends in antimicrobial resistance profiles of A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa strains circulating in various regions of Romania. The findings revealed both temporal variability in resistance rates within comparable intervals and differences across distinct time periods. These long-term trends underscore the need for sustained national surveillance systems, harmonized reporting practices, and reinforced antimicrobial stewardship programs.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** pneumonia (MONDO:0005249), bacteremia (MONDO:0005229)
- **Species:** Acinetobacter baumannii (taxon 470), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (taxon 287)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** SLC17A5 (solute carrier family 17 member 5) [NCBI Gene 26503] {aka AST, ISSD, NSD, SD, SIALIN, SIASD}
- **Diseases:** AMR (MESH:D060467), meningitis (MESH:D008580), injury to (MESH:D014947), skin and soft tissue infections (MESH:D018461), respiratory infections (MESH:D012141), critically ill (MESH:D016638), antibiotic (MESH:D004761), MDR (MESH:D018088), burn (MESH:D002056), bacterial pneumonia (MESH:D018410), pneumonia (MESH:D011014), XDR (MESH:D054908), Infections (MESH:D007239), bacteremia (MESH:D016470), COVID-19 (MESH:D000086382), urinary tract infections (MESH:D014552), HAI (MESH:D003428), ocular and otic infections (MESH:D015817), deaths (MESH:D003643), viral infection (MESH:D014777), P. aeruginosa infection (MESH:D011552), fungal infections (MESH:D009181), bloodstream infections (MESH:D018805), infectious diseases (MESH:D003141), bacterial (MESH:D001424), endocarditis (MESH:D004696), surgical site (MESH:D013530), Gram-negative bacilli infections (MESH:D016905), osteomyelitis (MESH:D010019)
- **Chemicals:** sulfonamides (MESH:D013449), ciprofloxacin (MESH:D002939), lincosamides (MESH:D055231), tigecycline (MESH:D000078304), cefoxitin (MESH:D002440), amino-glycosides (MESH:D000617), piperacillin (MESH:D010878), oxygen (MESH:D010100), carbenicillin (MESH:D002228), tobramycin (MESH:D014031), fusidic acid (MESH:D005672), tazobactam (MESH:D000078142), gentamicin (MESH:D005839), amoxicillin (MESH:D000658), AmpC (MESH:D000242), cephamycin (MESH:D002513), ertapenem (MESH:D000077727), nalidixic acid (MESH:D009268), ticarcillin (MESH:D013982), carbapenem (MESH:D015780), CAZ (MESH:D002442), levofloxacin (MESH:D064704), cefepime (MESH:D000077723), tetracyclines (MESH:D013754), meropenem (MESH:D000077731), trimethoprim (MESH:D014295), cephalosporins (MESH:D002511), ceftriaxone (MESH:D002443), Piperacillin-Tazobactam (MESH:D000077725), macrolides (MESH:D018942), Fluoroquinolone (MESH:D024841), amikacin (MESH:D000583), ADC cephalosporinase (-), cefotaxime (MESH:D002439), ceftazidime avibactam (MESH:C000595613), cefuroxime (MESH:D002444), Aztreonam (MESH:D001398), tetracycline (MESH:D013752), sulbactam (MESH:D013407), cefoperazone (MESH:D002438), beta-lactams (MESH:D047090), chloramphenicol (MESH:D002701), LEV (MESH:D007978), imipenem (MESH:D015378), ampicillin (MESH:D000667), Clavulanate (MESH:D019818), glycopeptides (MESH:D006020), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (MESH:D015662), doripenem (MESH:D000077726)
- **Species:** Pseudomonas aeruginosa (species) [taxon 287], Klebsiella pneumoniae (species) [taxon 573], Meleagris gallopavo (common turkey, species) [taxon 9103], Enterobacterales (order) [taxon 91347], Staphylococcus aureus (species) [taxon 1280], Bacteria Latreille et al. 1825 (Bacteria stick insect, genus) [taxon 629395], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Acinetobacter baumannii (species) [taxon 470]

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12943554