Pseudomonas Infection #10

Medical Microbiology Disease of the week 5

classification

Pseudomonas infection (wound infections)

causative agent

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

(GNR, facultative anaerobe, flagella and pili, blue-green, antibiotic resistant, biofilms)

epidemiology

reservoir- ubiquitous-animals and their environment

portal of entry- compromised tissues

transmission- indirect and direct & nosocomial infections

incubation

variable (hours to days)

pathogenesis

using pili and flagella→ attachment and colonization of surfaces. secrete effector proteins (virulence factors) disrupting tissue and cells. Exotoxin A inhibits translation, proteases digest tissues and stop clotting, and phospholipase digests cell membrane. The toxin pyocyanine produces a greenish color to infection

symptoms

skin lesions with green pus, chills, fever, vary based on location (folliculitis, green nail syndrome, keratitis, UTI, pneumonia, etc.)

complications

spread of infection to other organs, bacteremia, sepsis, necrotizing lesions, mortality for bacteremia (12-60%)

treatment

antibiotics (multidrug- resistant variants)

prevention

disinfection of surfaces and equipment, proper aseptic technique, proper wound care and removal of dead tissue