The name Acinetobacter comes from the translation of a scientific Greek word, and it means nonmotile/immobile rod.

Members of the genus Acinetobacter are gram-negative, nonmotile, strictly aerobic, oxidase-negative coccobacilli. The bacteria of the genus do not make spores. Acinetobacter species are found in soil and water, sewage, human clinical specimens, and activated sludge. (Yoon et al., 2007).

Acinetobacter marinus is a slightly halophilic bacterial strain of the genus Acinetobacter.

The genus is known to cause diseases in hospitals, especially in intensive care units.