Little is known about the ecology and evolution of the nosocomial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii outside the hospital. Here, Wilharm et al. show that the lifestyle of A. baumannii includes soil-dwelling and airborne dissemination, which helps to explain its adaptability and predisposition to establish within hospitals.
- Gottfried Wilharm
- Evelyn Skiebe
- Leszek Jerzak