If I acquire Acinetobacter does that mean I’m infected?
Not necessarily. You can be colonised or infected with the bacteria: Acinetobacter colonisation means that the bacteria is simply ‘sitting on the skin’ (in any site) but is causing no adverse affect to the patient. Many people live with the bacteria on their skin throughout their lives, without it causing any problems or symptoms of illness. In an Acinetobacter infection, the bacteria are causing clinical signs of infection in the patient.
