Community-acquired Acinetobacter baumannii bloodstream infection with central nervous system involvement: a case report.

OBJECTIVE: This study reports a rare case of community-acquired Acinetobacter baumannii bloodstream infection complicated by central nervous system (CNS) involvement, providing insights into its clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment. METHODS: A 76-year-old woman presented with fever, chills, and altered mental status. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures confirmed A. baumannii infection, with no evidence of pulmonary involvement. RESULTS: The patient was successfully treated with a combination of meropenem and both intravenous and intrathecal colistin methanesulfonate. CONCLUSION: While A. baumannii is primarily associated with hospital-acquired infections, this case highlights its potential to cause severe community-acquired bloodstream infections with CNS involvement.