Lecture 23: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida auris

A set of vocabulary flashcards derived from Lecture 23, focusing on key terms and concepts related to Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida auris, along with drug resistance.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium that is ubiquitous in the environment and a leading nosocomial pathogen.

Candida auris

An emerging multidrug-resistant yeast that can cause severe infections and spreads easily in healthcare settings.

Urgent Threats

Classification of the most serious threats from the CDC in the drug resistance crisis.

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter

A type of bacteria that has developed resistance to carbapenem antibiotics.

Clostridioides difficile

A bacterium that can cause severe diarrhea and colitis, often linked to antibiotic use.

Candida auris (C. auris)

A species of Candida associated with serious infections and notable for its antifungal resistance.

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)

A group of bacteria resistant to carbapenem antibiotics, representing a significant healthcare threat.

Drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae

The bacterium responsible for gonorrhea, which has developed resistance to treatments.

Serious Threats

Class of pathogens identified by CDC that pose significant risks but are not classified as urgent.

Drug-resistant Campylobacter

A bacterium associated with foodborne illness that has shown increasing antibiotic resistance.

Drug-resistant Candida

Forms of Candida species that have developed resistance to antifungal treatments.

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE)

Enterococci bacteria that have developed resistance to vancomycin, an antibiotic critical for severe infections.

Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDR P. aeruginosa)

Strains of P. aeruginosa that are resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics.

Drug-resistant nontyphoidal Salmonella

A type of Salmonella bacteria resistant to several antibiotics, causing foodborne illness.

Drug-resistant Shigella

Bacteria that causes dysentery and has gained resistance to multiple antibiotics.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

A strain of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin and other antibiotics.

Drug-resistant Tuberculosis (TB)

Strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that resists standard treatments.

Erythromycin-resistant group A Streptococcus

Streptococcus bacteria resistant to erythromycin, an important antibiotic.

Clindamycin-resistant group B Streptococcus

Group B Streptococcus bacteria resistant to clindamycin.

Azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus

A mold that has developed resistance to azole antifungal drugs.

Drug-resistant Mycoplasma genitalium

An infectious agent causing sexually transmitted infections that is resistant to common treatments.

Drug-resistant Bordetella pertussis

A bacterium causing whooping cough that has developed antibiotic resistance.

Multidrug-resistant

Referring to bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics.

Estimated deaths in 2017 from P. aeruginosa

2,700 deaths attributed to multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

C. auris threat level

Classified as an urgent threat by the CDC due to its high resistance to antifungals.

Estimated cases of P. aeruginosa in hospitalized patients (2017)

32,600 cases estimated in U.S. hospitals.

Healthcare costs from P. aeruginosa infection

Estimated at $767 million attributable to multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa treatments.

Clinical cases of C. auris in 2018

Reported clinical cases of Candida auris totaled 323.

90% of C. auris isolates

Resistant to at least one antifungal medication.

30% of C. auris isolates

Resistant to at least two different antifungals.

Verona integron-encoded metallo-beta-lactamase

A specific mechanism of drug resistance of P. aeruginosa.

Healthcare-associated infections caused by P. aeruginosa

Including pneumonia, bloodstream, urinary tract, and surgical site infections.

Opportunistic pathogen

A pathogen that exploits opportunities available due to a host's weakened immune system.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF)

An inherited disorder affecting the lungs and digestive system, leading to increased infection risk.

Biofilm

An assemblage of microbial cells enclosed in a protective matrix, aiding in bacterial survival.

Quorum sensing

A process of bacterial communication that regulates group behavior and virulence.

C. auris virulence factors

Properties that enhance the pathogenicity of Candida auris, including thermotolerance and osmotolerance.

Filamentation in C. auris

The ability of C. auris to grow in filamentous forms, influencing virulence and adaptation.

Chronic inflammation

A long-term inflammatory response that can lead to tissue damage and further infections.

Antifungal resistance

The ability of fungi to survive and grow despite the presence of antifungal agents.

Infection control breaches

Failures in maintaining proper practices to prevent pathogen spread in healthcare settings.

Thermotolerance

The ability of organisms to survive at high temperatures, a feature of C. auris.

Osmotolerance

The ability to tolerate high concentrations of salt, also seen in C. auris.

Metabolism-related genes in filamentous C. auris

Genes involved in sugar transport and energy production that are more active in filamentous cells.

C. auris resistance factor

Factors contributing to the persistence and spread of Candida auris in healthcare environments.

High salt concentration tolerance

The ability to survive in environments with high salt conditions, characteristic of C. auris.

Pharmaceutical resistance evolution

The process by which microorganisms develop resistance to drugs through genetic changes.

Clinical case reporting

Documenting the occurrence of specific infections for epidemiological tracking and management.

Epidemiology of drug resistance

The study of the factors affecting the emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections.

Healthcare-associated outbreaks

Situations where infections spread within healthcare settings, often due to resistant pathogens.

Healthcare facility precautions

Measures taken to prevent the spread of infections, especially multi-drug resistant organisms.

Systemic infection model

An experimental model used to study how pathogens behave in a host organism.

Microbial pathogens

Microorganisms that can cause diseases in hosts, often through specific adaptations.

Impact of climate change on pathogens

The influence of global environmental changes on the evolution and spread of infectious agents.