Letter: a

An abnormal increase in the acidity of the bodys fluids, caused either by accumulation of acids or by depletion of bicarbonates; often used to describe the acid-base status of the blood. The opposite of alkalosis

A gram negative pathogenic small rod shaped bacterium. It is mainly found in water, but can remain viable and infectious for days to weeks on dry, inanimate surfaces. The bacterium can cause many infections including pneumonia, wound infections, bacteremia, and meningitis. Acinetobacter is often resistant to those antibiotics normally used to treat it.