Community-acquired Acinetobacter baumannii pneumonia.

We report two cases of community-acquired Acinetobacter baumannii pneumonia . Although most infections occur in hospitalized patients, a few cases of c ommunity-acquired pneumonia have been described. This disease occurs predom inantly in men, and is often associated with underlying conditions such as cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, diabetes mellitus, and chronic pulmonary diseases. Community-acquired Acinetobacter baumannii pneumonia cases are ge nerally reported from tropical areas, especially during wet season. Microbi ological identification in blood or sputum can be difficult because of freq uent misinterpretation and possible confusion with Staphylococcus or Haemop hilus infuenzae or neisseriae. Early antibiotherapy is required because of the fulminant clinical course, with approximatively 50% fatality rate. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.