Large increase in bloodstream infections with carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter species during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, EU/EEA, 2020 and 2021

Recent data from the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net) show a large increase of +57% in Acinetobacter species bloodstream infections in the European Union and European Economic Area in the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) compared with 2018-2019. Most were resistant to carbapenems, from intensive care units, and in countries with & GE; 50% carbapenem resistance in Acinetobacter spp. in 2018-2019. This highlights the requirement for reinforced Acinetobact er preparedness and infection prevention and control in Europe.