Acinetobacter species, Carbapenem-resistant
Reportable by LaboratoriesAbout this Reportable Disease
(Davidson, Robertson, Rutherford, Williamson, Wilson, Sumner, Cheatham, Dickson Counties)
Infectious agent: Acinetobacter bacteria, primarily Acinetobacter baumannii complex [with intermediate or resistance to: doripenem (MIC>1) imipenem (MIC of ≥8), or meropenem (MIC of ≥8)]
Description of illness: Acinetobacter baumannii can cause a variety of diseases, ranging from pneumonia to serious blood or wound infections, and the symptoms vary depending on the disease. Acinetobacter may also “colonize” or live in a patient without causing infection or symptoms, especially in tracheostomy sites or open wounds.
Laboratory Reporting for this Disease
Acinetobacter baumanii Carbapenem Resistant Colonization Screening
| TEST NAME | Acinetobacter baumanii Carbapenem Resistant Colonization Screening |
| DISEASE/DISORDER | Carbapenem Resistant Acinetobacter baumanii Colonization |
| ALTERNATIVE NAME(S) | CRAB screening |
| METHODOLOGY | Culture-based chromagar screening |
| SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS |
|
| ORDERING INFORMATION | Lab Web Portal |
Specimen Requirements
| Patient Preparation |
|
| Specimen Collection |
- Copan® swab or E-swab from rectum, axilla, groin, and/or wound - Sputum sample in a sterile cup |
| Specimen Labeling |
|
| Specimen Processing |
|
| Specimen Storage and Preservation |
|
| Specimen Transport |
|
Specimen Acceptability and Rejection |
|
| Testing Location |
|
Laboratory Reporting
Reporting requirements apply to all laboratories located within Tennessee, as well as laboratories outside of Tennessee that test residents of Tennessee, including laboratories located within healthcare facilities. Healthcare providers and laboratories in the same healthcare facility both have a duty to report. The type of organisms and analytes laboratories must report to TDH for 2026 are indicated, and there are several ways laboratories can report results to TDH.
- Manually report results to TDH by faxing or mailing a completed PH-1600 form to your local health department, or faxing to the state health office at (615) 741-3857
- Automatically submit results to TDH via electronic laboratory reporting (ELR), which automates the process of sharing data with TDH using interoperability standards.
- See the ELR Onboarding Handbook for details on the onboarding process, checklist, frequently asked questions, business rules, message format, and vocabulary.
- To initiate the ELR onboarding process with TDH, register in the Trading Partner Registration (TPR) system TPR provides documentation for Promoting Interoperability (PI) attestation and milestone letters to document onboarding progress. Contact MU.Health@tn.gov for assistance.
- Submit online via NBS. NBS is TDH's reportable disease system. To request an NBS account for reporting Complete this user survey to request an NBS account for reporting.
- Blood lead levels can be sent via fax ( (615) 741-3857), entered online, or reported using the instructions at this link.
Information about this Reportable Disease for Healthcare Providers
At-risk Populations
Patients in healthcare settings are at highest risk, especially those who:
Are on breathing machines (ventilators).
Have devices such as catheters.
Have open wounds from surgery.
Are in intensive care units.
Have prolonged hospital stays.
People who have weakened immune systems, chronic lung disease or diabetes may be more susceptible.
Healthcare Provider Reporting
Healthcare reporting requirements apply to all providers located within Tennessee, as well as providers whose patients reside in Tennessee.
Providers must report cases of all diseases and conditions listed through one of these methods:
• Mail or fax a completed PH-1600 form to your local health department or fax to the state health office at (615) 741-3857
• Send automatically via electronic case reporting (eCR). See this TDH webpage for more information on eCR, register at the Trader Partner Registration website, or contact MU.Health@tn.gov for assistance.
• Submit online via NBS. NBS is TDH's reportable disease system. To request an NBS account for reporting Complete this user survey to request an NBS account for reporting.
• Blood lead levels can be sent via fax ( (615) 741-3857), entered online, or reported using the instructions at this link.
Information about this Reportable Disease for the Public
What It Is
Acinetobacter is a group of bacteria (germs) commonly found in the environment, like in soil and water. Infections caused by Acinetobacter rarely occur outside of healthcare settings.
Types
Germs in the Acinetobacter baumannii family account for most Acinetobacter infections in humans. This type is sometimes referred to as "Acinetobacter baumannii complex."
Signs and Symptoms
Acinetobacter baumannii can cause infections in the blood, urinary tract, lungs (pneumonia) or wounds. In some cases, people can carry the bacteria without being infected, known as colonization.
How it Spreads
Contact with contaminated surfaces.
Contact with contaminated equipment.
Person-to-person contact, often via contaminated hands.
Treatment
Antibiotics: Acinetobacter infections are generally treated with antibiotics. To identify the best antibiotic to treat a specific infection, healthcare providers will send a specimen to the laboratory and test the bacteria against a set of antibiotics to determine which are active against the germ. The provider will select an antibiotic based on the test results and other factors, like potential side effects or interactions with other drugs.
Antimicrobial Resistance: Unfortunately, many Acinetobacter germs are resistant to multiple antibiotics, which makes them difficult to treat.
This Page Last Updated: March 26, 2026 at 12:33 PM