| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | |
|---|---|
| |
| P. aeruginosa colonies on blood agar | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Bacteria |
| Phylum: | Pseudomonadota |
| Class: | Gammaproteobacteria |
| Order: | Pseudomonadales |
| Family: | Pseudomonadaceae |
| Genus: | Pseudomonas |
| Species: | P. aeruginosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Schröter 1872)
Migula 1900 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common encapsulated, Gram-negative, aerobic–facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium that can cause disease in plants and animals, including humans.[1][2] A species of considerable medical importance, P. aeruginosa is a multidrug resistant pathogen recognized for its ubiquity, its intrinsically advanced antibiotic resistance mechanisms, and its association with serious illnesses – hospital-acquired infections such as ventilator-associated pneumonia and various sepsis syndromes. P. aeruginosa is able to selectively inhibit various antibiotics from penetrating its outer membrane - and has high resistance to several antibiotics. According to the World Health Organization P. aeruginosa poses one of the greatest threats to humans in terms of antibiotic resistance.[3]
The organism is considered opportunistic insofar as serious infection often occurs during existing diseases or conditions – most notably cystic fibrosis and traumatic burns. It generally affects the immunocompromised but can also infect the immunocompetent as in hot tub folliculitis. Treatment of P. aeruginosa infections can be difficult due to its natural resistance to antibiotics. When more advanced antibiotic drug regimens are needed adverse effects may result.
It is citrate, catalase, and oxidase positive. It is found in soil, water, skin flora, and most human-made environments throughout the world. It thrives not only in normal atmospheres, but also in low-oxygen atmospheres, thus has colonized many natural and artificial environments. It uses a wide range of organic material for food; in animals, its versatility enables the organism to infect damaged tissues or those with reduced immunity. The symptoms of such infections are generalized inflammation and sepsis. If such colonizations occur in critical body organs, such as the lungs, the urinary tract, and kidneys, the results can be fatal.[4] Because it thrives on moist surfaces, this bacterium is also found on and in medical equipment, including catheters, causing cross-infections in hospitals and clinics. It is also able to decompose hydrocarbons and has been used to break down tarballs and oil from oil spills.[5] P. aeruginosa is not extremely virulent in comparison with other major species of pathogenic bacteria such as Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes – though P. aeruginosa is capable of extensive colonization, and can aggregate into enduring biofilms.[6]
- ^ "UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations: Identification of Pseudomonas species and other Non- Glucose Fermenters" (PDF). Public Health England. 13 April 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
- ^ Diggle SP, Whiteley M (January 2020). "Microbe Profile: Pseudomonas aeruginosa: opportunistic pathogen and lab rat". Microbiology. 166 (1): 30–33. doi:10.1099/mic.0.000860. PMC 7273324. PMID 31597590.
- ^ Spagnolo AM, Sartini M, Cristina ML (July 2021). "Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the healthcare facility setting". Reviews and Research in Medical Microbiology. 32 (3): 169–175. doi:10.1097/MRM.0000000000000271. ISSN 2770-3150. Archived from the original on 2024-01-18. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- ^ Balcht A, Smith R (1994). Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Infections and Treatment. Informa Health Care. pp. 83–84. ISBN 978-0-8247-9210-7.
- ^ Itah AY, Essien JP (2005). "Growth Profile and Hydrocarbonoclastic Potential of Microorganisms Isolated from Tarballs in the Bight of Bonny, Nigeria". World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology. 21 (6–7): 1317–22. doi:10.1007/s11274-004-6694-z. S2CID 84888286.
- ^ Høiby N, Ciofu O, Bjarnsholt T (November 2010). "Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms in cystic fibrosis". Future Microbiology. 5 (11): 1663–1674. doi:10.2217/fmb.10.125. PMID 21133688.