Pseudomonas aeruginosa has become an important cause of gram-negative infection, especially in patients with compromised host defense mechanisms. Serious Pseudomonas infections usually occur in people in the hospital or with weakened immune systems. Infections of the blood, pneumonia, and infections following surgery can lead to severe illness and death in these people.
Transmission:
Patients in hospitals, especially those on breathing machines, those with devices such as catheters, and patients with wounds from surgery or from burns are potentially at risk for serious, life-threatening infections.In hospitals, where the most serious infections occur, Pseudomonas can be spread on the hands of healthcare workers or by equipment that gets contaminated and is not properly cleaned.
Symptoms:
Pseudomonal infections can involve the many different parts of the body. The infections will manifest according to the system that is infected. The corresponding symptoms and signs:
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Respiratory tract (eg, pneumonia)
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Bloodstream (bacteremia)
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Heart ( endocarditis)
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Central Nervous System (eg, meningitis, brain abscess)
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Ear (eg, otitis externa and media)
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Eye (eg, bacterial keratitis, endophthalmitis)
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Bones and joints (eg, osteomyelitis)
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Gastrointestinal tract (eg, diarrhea, enteritis, enterocolitis)
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Urinary tract
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Skin (eg, ecthyma gangrenosum)
