{
  "schema_version": "1.0",
  "level": "species",
  "genus": "Acinetobacter",
  "species": "baumannii",

  "overview": {
    "short": "Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, non-fermentative coccobacillus associated with severe healthcare-associated infections.",
    "clinical_context": "A major cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia, bloodstream infections, wound infections, and outbreaks in intensive care units."
  },

  "expected_fields": {
    "Gram Stain": "Negative",
    "Shape": "Coccobacilli",
    "Motility": "Negative",
    "Capsule": "Variable",
    "Spore Formation": "Negative",
    "Haemolysis": "Negative",
    "Haemolysis Type": "None",
    "Media Grown On": [
      "Blood Agar",
      "MacConkey Agar"
    ],
    "Colony Morphology": [
      "Smooth",
      "Opaque",
      "Grey-White"
    ],
    "Oxygen Requirement": "Aerobic",
    "Growth Temperature": "20//44",
    "Catalase": "Positive",
    "Oxidase": "Negative",
    "Indole": "Negative",
    "Urease": "Variable",
    "Citrate": "Variable",
    "Methyl Red": "Negative",
    "VP": "Negative",
    "H2S": "Negative",
    "DNase": "Variable",
    "ONPG": "Negative",
    "Coagulase": "Negative",
    "Gelatin Hydrolysis": "Variable",
    "Esculin Hydrolysis": "Negative",
    "Nitrate Reduction": "Negative",
    "NaCl Tolerant (>=6%)": "Positive",
    "Lipase Test": "Variable",
    "Lysine Decarboxylase": "Negative",
    "Ornithine Decarboxylase": "Negative",
    "Ornitihine Decarboxylase": "Negative",
    "Arginine dihydrolase": "Negative",
    "Glucose Fermentation": "Negative",
    "Lactose Fermentation": "Negative",
    "Sucrose Fermentation": "Negative",
    "Maltose Fermentation": "Negative",
    "Mannitol Fermentation": "Variable",
    "Sorbitol Fermentation": "Negative",
    "Xylose Fermentation": "Negative",
    "Rhamnose Fermentation": "Negative",
    "Arabinose Fermentation": "Negative",
    "Raffinose Fermentation": "Negative",
    "Trehalose Fermentation": "Negative",
    "Inositol Fermentation": "Negative",
    "Gas Production": "Negative",
    "TSI Pattern": "K/K",
    "Colony Pattern": "Unknown",
    "Pigment": "None",
    "Motility Type": "None"
  },

  "species_markers": [
    {
      "field": "NaCl Tolerant (>=6%)",
      "value": "Positive",
      "importance": "high",
      "notes": "Salt tolerance supports A. baumannii over many other Acinetobacter species."
    },
    {
      "field": "Growth Temperature",
      "value": "44//44",
      "importance": "high",
      "notes": "Growth at elevated temperatures is characteristic of A. baumannii."
    }
  ],

  "common_confusions": [
    {
      "species": "Acinetobacter pittii",
      "reason": "Part of the A. baumannii complex with overlapping biochemical profiles."
    },
    {
      "species": "Acinetobacter calcoaceticus",
      "reason": "Closely related environmental species within the complex."
    }
  ],

  "when_to_question_identification": [
    "Failure to grow at elevated temperatures suggests a non-baumannii species.",
    "Environmental isolation without clinical context may indicate another Acinetobacter species."
  ],

  "recommended_next_tests": [
    {
      "test": "MALDI-TOF MS",
      "reason": "Accurate differentiation within the Acinetobacter baumannii complex."
    },
    {
      "test": "Antimicrobial susceptibility testing",
      "reason": "Critical due to frequent multidrug resistance."
    },
    {
      "test": "Molecular identification",
      "reason": "Definitive species-level confirmation when clinically significant."
    }
  ]
}