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Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2000; 21(4): 331-340
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-9861
Copyright © 2000 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 584-4662

Problem Pulmonary Pathogens: Pseudomonas Aeruinosa

Ruba Odeh, John P. Quinn
  • Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago
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Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2000 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common and highly lethal agent of nosocomial pneumonia, especially among patients receiving mechanical ventilation. It is widespread in the environment and commonly recovered from water in nature and in hospital settings. P. aeruginosa is endowed with a formidable array of virulence factors that facilitate attachment to host cells, tissue invasion, and systemic disease. It is intrinsically resistant to many commonly used antibiotics due to a complex variety of mechanisms that we will briefly review. Recent advances in the understanding of the molecular biology of this organism have shed considerable light on its ability to form biofilms, which facilitate adherence especially in cystic fibrosis patients, and confer resistance to clearance by host immune mechanisms and antimicrobial killing. Treatment studies have demonstrated a significant risk of emergence of resistance during therapy with a variety of agents. Several studies suggest that two drugs are better than one for therapy of serious infections, although dual therapy does not always prevent emergence of resistant strains.

KEYWORD

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respiratory infections - pathogenesis

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