Pseudomonas aeruginosa

What is the morphology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa?

What might you need to distinguish from?

Motile Gram negative rod

E coli

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is Ubiquitous.

What does this mean?

it is found EVERYWHERE

T/F Pseudomonas aeruginosa is highly resistant to many antimicrobials (maybe even the most resistant)

True

T/F Pseudomonas aeruginosa is part of the normal flora of the skin

True

T/F Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen

True

What are some the the examples where Pseudomonas aeruginosa can be an opportunistic pathogen?

Trauma such as burns

Immune suppression

Prolonged antimicrobial therapy

Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause pyogenic disease. What does this mean and what are the diseases it can cause? (7)

forms pus

•Pneumonias

•Mastitis

•Otitis externa in dogs & humans

•Reproductive tract infections

•Septicemia

•Ocular diseases

•Dermatitis

What color is the pus that is made by Pseudomonas aeruginosa?

light blue/green

What are the FIVE virulence factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa?

•Exotoxin A

•Elastase

•Hemolysins

•Glycolipoprotein

•Enterotoxin

Which one of the virulence factors causes virulence by inhibiting the phagocytic cells by inhibiting the protein they need to grow?

Exotoxin A

Which one of the virulence factors is found in the lung and vasculature and when it is depleted can cause pneumonia and sepsis?

Elastase

Which one of the virulence factors is a necrosis factors that targets phagocytes?

hemolysin

What does the virulence factor Glycolipoprotein do?

Why is this important?

used to make a biofilm

form on/around catheter so it is hard to get the drugs through the slime layer

What does the virulence factor Enterotoxin do?

cause diarrhea

T/F Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most resistant bacteria known

True

What are the TWO things that can be used for Pseudomonas aeruginosa treatment?

Antimicrobials and disinfectants

Why do you need disinfectants?

to make sure that it won’t infect the next animal that comes to the exam room

When treating for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, what are some things to note?

Polymyxins for UTI

Multiple drugs needed

Sensitivity test critical