Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common <a href="/facts/Bacterial_capsule/FVSHDlXL">encapsulated</a>, <a href="/facts/Gram-negative_bacteria/S1PbVtp4">Gram-negative</a>, <a href="/facts/Aerobic_organism/a629EQD7">aerobic</a>–<a href="/facts/Facultative_anaerobe/YS9tdh8N">facultatively anaerobic</a>, <a href="/facts/Bacillus_(shape)/0rGR5vvU">rod-shaped</a> <a href="/facts/Bacteria/wC8xSCsU">bacterium</a> that can cause <a href="/facts/Disease/55eeQlGL">disease</a> in plants and animals, including humans. A <a href="/facts/Species/oDg6b96r">species</a> of considerable medical importance, P. aeruginosa is a <a href="/facts/Multiple_drug_resistance/TPbHtAvz">multidrug resistant</a> pathogen recognized for its ubiquity, its <a href="/facts/Intrinsic_and_extrinsic_properties/5WJ1zN7q">intrinsically</a> advanced <a href="/facts/Antibiotic_resistance/jsbAywgx">antibiotic resistance</a> mechanisms, and its association with serious illnesses – <a href="/facts/Hospital-acquired_infections/sKWTbPTq">hospital-acquired infections</a> such as <a href="/facts/Ventilator-associated_pneumonia/LvzHBPsE">ventilator-associated pneumonia</a> and various <a href="/facts/Sepsis/n52bkffJ">sepsis</a> <a href="/facts/Syndromes/JFVb3x8f">syndromes</a>. P. aeruginosa is able to selectively inhibit various antibiotics from penetrating its outer membrane - and has high resistance to several antibiotics. According to the <a href="/facts/World_Health_Organization/YNN3bgug">World Health Organization</a> P. aeruginosa poses one of the greatest threats to humans in terms of antibiotic resistance.
The organism is considered <a href="/facts/Opportunistic_infection/d6ndMynw">opportunistic</a> insofar as serious infection often occurs during existing <a href="/facts/Disease/55eeQlGL">diseases</a> or conditions – most notably <a href="/facts/Cystic_fibrosis/tlNK5BAH">cystic fibrosis</a> and traumatic burns. It generally affects the <a href="/facts/Immunodeficiency/CIEujXmc">immunocompromised</a> but can also infect the <a href="/facts/Immunocompetent/9dHaIBb7">immunocompetent</a> as in <a href="/facts/Hot_tub_folliculitis/Qbs4gq8S">hot tub folliculitis</a>. Treatment of P. aeruginosa infections can be difficult due to its natural resistance to antibiotics. When more advanced antibiotic drug regimens are needed <a href="/facts/Adverse_effects/vAhfbr1J">adverse effects</a> may result.
It is <a href="/facts/Citrate/EgKGQBdl">citrate</a>, <a href="/facts/Catalase/CcJ9r5KG">catalase</a>, and <a href="/facts/Oxidase_positive/UB7VGeWl">oxidase positive</a>. It is found in soil, water, <a href="/facts/Skin_flora/jxUPFoB4">skin flora</a>, and most human-made environments throughout the world. As a <a href="/facts/Facultative_anaerobic_organism/YS9tdh8N">facultative anaerobe</a>, P. aeruginosa thrives in diverse habitats. 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 <a href="/facts/Inflammation/Ura86MIy">inflammation</a> and <a href="/facts/Sepsis/n52bkffJ">sepsis</a>. If such colonizations occur in critical body organs, such as the <a href="/facts/Lung/gTWXI6Fj">lungs</a>, the <a href="/facts/Urinary_tract/CJxvtE0S">urinary tract</a>, and <a href="/facts/Kidney/HBspPrv9">kidneys</a>, the results can be fatal. Because it thrives on moist surfaces, this bacterium is also found on and in <a href="/facts/Medical_equipment/uzUHp474">medical equipment</a>, including <a href="/facts/Catheter/ehnH1eF5">catheters</a>, causing cross-<a href="/facts/Infection/182XrncP">infections</a> in <a href="/facts/Hospital/WaryeVJd">hospitals</a> and <a href="/facts/Clinic/P6DdTJ9G">clinics</a>. It is also able to decompose hydrocarbons and has been used to break down <a href="/facts/Tarball_(oil)/heH06WYs">tarballs</a> and oil from <a href="/facts/Oil_spill/A1KGmKI6">oil spills</a>. P. aeruginosa is not extremely <a href="/facts/Virulence/TYmX1Fa6">virulent</a> in comparison with other major species of <a href="/facts/Pathogenic_bacteria/X5QcVN5j">pathogenic bacteria</a> such as <a href="/facts/Gram-positive/H6WYQ17e">Gram-positive</a> <a href="/facts/Staphylococcus_aureus/9yDVBMsc">Staphylococcus aureus</a> and <a href="/facts/Streptococcus_pyogenes/qrkSpDz1">Streptococcus pyogenes</a> – though P. aeruginosa is capable of extensive colonization, and can aggregate into enduring <a href="/facts/Biofilm/zg93x2w4">biofilms</a>.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium with a single polar flagellum, exhibiting metabolic versatility that allows it to thrive in diverse environments by utilizing a wide range of organic compounds as energy sources. Its genome includes numerous genes for transcriptional regulation and antibiotic resistance, such as efflux systems and beta-lactamases, which contribute to its adaptability and pathogenicity in human hosts

Pseudomonas aeruginosa open-in-new

Pseudomonas aeruginosa