Pseudomonas Flashcards
Where are pseudomonas commonly found?
Soil and water
Describe the appearance of pseudomonas
Gram negative rods, aerobic, motile by single polar flagellum
What special group/Diseased population is at a particularly high risk for pseudomonas infection?
Cystic Fibrosis patients.
Psuedomonas Aeruginosa
Cause various opportunistic infections, especially in CF pts.
Stenotrophomonas Maltophilia
nosocomial respiratory infections, especially in CF pts.
Burkholderia Cepacia
Nosocomial respiratory infections, especially in CF patients.
Aeromonas Hydrophila
Common cause of wound infections contaminated with fresh water, usually spreads systemically!
Chromobacterium violaceum
Unusual cause of wound infections from contaminated fresh water, can spread systemically
Elizabethkingia meningosepticum
unusual cause of wound infection from water, also can cause meningitis. This was the one that was responsible for recent nosocomial outbreak in Chicago that miller went to help with!
What is Acinetobacter Baumanii?
An emerging pathogen that was discovered in soldiers in Iraq. It is transmitted via soil and water.
Can Acinetobacter Baumanii cause colonization without disease?
Yes. It can colonize and cause disease, or just colonize.
What is a very concerning problem with Acinetobacter Baumanii?
It is becoming MDR!
Treatment for Acinetobacter Baumanii?
Carbapenems, and Fluoroquinolones
What are the three primary characteristics of psuedomonas related bacteria?
- Expect to be found only in compromises hosts
- Expect the source to be from the environment
- Expect to be antibiotic resistant!
Describe the characteristics of psuedomonas
Strict aerobe
Oxidase +
Very resistant to many chemical disinfectants and antibiotics!
What are the virulence factors of pseudomonas?
LPS, O antigen, fimbraie, capsule, flagella and a ton of exotoxins and enzyme.
What is unique about the capsule of pseudomonas?
There isa slim layer and a mucoid layer.
What is the mucoid capsule of psuedomonas?
It is alginate and nearly exclusive for CF strains of the bacteria.
What are the exotoxins and enzymes released by psuedomonas?
Exotoxin A, Exoenzyme S, Cytotoxin (leukocidin), phospholipase C, Elastase and pigments
What do most of the toxins and enzymes produced by pseudomonas do?
most of them kill or inhibit phagocytic cells. Elastase causes direct damage to lung issues and vessels, it causes indirect damage due to destruction of anti-proteinases.
How is pseudomonas transmitted?
From the hands of hospital personnel, direct contact with contaminated equipment or ingestion of food or water.
What are the six clinically important diseases that pseudomonas can cause/exacerbate?
- Pneumonia
- Cystic fibrosis Pneumonia
- UTI
- Burn or wound infection
- Dermatitis
- Corneal infections
What is the defect in nosocomial pneumonia?
immunocompromised hospital patient.
What are the complications of pseudomonas pneumonia?
Bloodstream invasion with septicemia, high mortality
NON-mucoid capsule
