Brisou & Prévot 1954 Acinetobacter [asz−in−ée−toe–back−ter] is a
genus of Gram-negative bacteria belonging to the
Gammaproteobacteria. Acinetobacter species are non-motile and
oxidase-negative, and occur in pairs under magnification. They
are important soil organisms, where they contribute to the
mineralization of, for example, aromatic compounds.
Acinetobacter are a key source of infection in debilitated
patients in the hospital, in particular the species
Acinetobacter baumannii. Acinetobacter is a compound word from
scientific Greek, meaning 'nonmotile/immobile rod'. The first
element acineto- is an unusual transliteration of the Greek
ακινητο-; the usual romanization in English is akineto-, as in
akinetic. Species of the genus Acinetobacter are strictly
aerobic nonfermentative Gram-negative bacilli. They show
preponderantly a coccobacillary morphology on nonselective agar.
Rods predominate in fluid media, especially during early growth.
The morphology of Acinetobacter sp. can be quite variable in
gram-stai