Tytuł i Autorzy Słowa kluczowe Abstract Bibliografia Abstract Acinetobacter baumannii is a preeminent opportunistic pathogen of critical clinical concern, characterized by its remarkable environmental persistence, robust biofilm-forming capacity, and rapid acquisition of multidrug resistance. This review synthesizes current knowledge regarding the molecular basis of A. baumannii adhesion and biofilm development, with an emphasis on key determinants, including OmpA, Bap, the Csu chaperone-usher pili system, Ata, and CarO, as well as the regulatory networks, such as the AbaI/AbaR quorum sensing and two-component systems, that govern their expression. This review delineates how these integrated genetic and regulatory pathways facilitate bacterial adaptation to environmental and host-imposed stressors, directly contributing to clinical persistence and the failure of conventional antimicrobial therapies. By protecting cells from host immune defenses and reducing antibiotic susceptibility, biofilm formation serves as a primary driver of chronic, device-associated infections. Understanding these molecular mechanisms is vital for developing innovative, virulence-targeting therapeutic strategies, such as anti-adhesion immunotherapies, biofilm disruptors, and novel combination regimens, to overcome the recalcitrance of carbapenemresistant A. baumannii infections.