CRAB

Abbreviation with 2 meanings

CRAB
Stands forCarbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii
Meanings2
CategoriesMedical

CRAB has two meanings. It stands for Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (infectious disease) or Hypercalcemia, renal insufficiency, anemia, bone lesions (hematology and oncology).

Meanings of CRAB at a glance

#CRAB stands forContext
1Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumanniiMedical › Infectious Disease
2Hypercalcemia, renal insufficiency, anemia, bone lesionsMedical › Hematology and Oncology

1. Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Medical · Infectious Disease Abbreviations

Highly drug-resistant Acinetobacter that survives for long periods on hospital surfaces and causes ventilator-associated pneumonia, bloodstream and wound infections, especially in intensive care units. The CDC classifies it as an urgent threat.

Example: Tracheal aspirate CRAB, resistant to all beta-lactams; ID recommends sulbactam-durlobactam plus meropenem.

Acinetobacter infections among troops wounded in Iraq earned it the nickname "Iraqibacter" in the 2000s. Sulbactam-durlobactam, approved in 2023, was designed specifically for CRAB. Pronounced like the animal "crab". Contact precautions and environmental cleaning are central to controlling outbreaks.

2. Hypercalcemia, renal insufficiency, anemia, bone lesions

Medical · Hematology and Oncology Abbreviations

Mnemonic for the four classic signs of end-organ damage that define active multiple myeloma: high calcium, kidney dysfunction, anemia and lytic bone lesions. Their presence separates myeloma needing treatment from smoldering myeloma and MGUS.

Example: CRAB features present: calcium 12.1, creatinine 2.3, Hgb 8.7 and lytic lesions on whole-body CT.

Specific thresholds include calcium more than 1 mg/dL above normal or above 11 mg/dL, creatinine above 2 mg/dL, hemoglobin below 10 g/dL and one or more lytic bone lesions. In 2014 the International Myeloma Working Group added SLiM biomarkers (60 percent or more marrow plasma cells, a light chain ratio of 100 or more, or more than one MRI focal lesion), often written SLiM-CRAB. In infectious disease CRAB means carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

More infectious disease abbreviations

  • CD4 – Cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4 T-cell count)
  • CDI – Clostridioides difficile infection
  • CMV – Cytomegalovirus
  • COVID-19 – Coronavirus disease 2019
  • CRE – Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales
  • CT – Chlamydia trachomatis
  • DAA – Direct-acting antiviral
  • DOT – Directly observed therapy

See all 92 infectious disease abbreviations →

More hematology and oncology abbreviations

  • CHOP – Cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorubicin (doxorubicin), Oncovin…
  • CLL – Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
  • CML – Chronic myeloid leukemia
  • CR – Complete response
  • CRS – Cytokine release syndrome
  • Cryo – Cryoprecipitate
  • CTCAE – Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events
  • ctDNA – Circulating tumor DNA

See all 144 hematology and oncology abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.