[Clinical importance of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus isolations from blood and venous catheters].

From 1980 to 1982 Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (A.c.) derived from blood cultures and venous catheters of 29 patients could be grown. 6 patients with clinical signs of Gram-negative septicemia had two or more blood cultures positive for A.c. Thus, the role of A.c. as the etiologically relevant pathogen seems to be evident. In 14 cases with clinical signs of septicemia but only one set of blood cultures positive for A.c. it is felt to be the causative agent since no other cause could be found. In 9 cases isolation of A.c. seems to be due to contamination - most likely from skin -, because neither evidence of septicemia nor relationship to the diseases present of A.c. existed.