10 Amazing Facts About Pseudomonas Aeruginosa

Check out these 10 amazing facts about Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

1.      It is a gram-negative bacterium, meaning that it has a thin peptidoglycan layer in its cell wall that does not retain crystal violet dye during the gram staining procedure

2.      P. aeruginosa is a rod-shaped bacterium that is typically 0.5 – 0.8 micrometers wide and 1.5 – 3.5 micrometres long.

3.      It is a facultative anaerobe, meaning that it can survive and grow in the presence or absence of oxygen.

4.      P. aeruginosa is found in soil, water, and other moist environments. It can also be found on the skin and in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals.

5.      It is a common cause of infections in human, particularly in people with compromised immune systems or chronic conditions such as cystic fibrosis or burns

6.      P. aeruginosa can cause a wide range of infections, including pneumonia, urinary tract infections, sepsis, and infections of the skin, eyes, and other soft tissues.

7.      It is generally resistant to many antibiotics, so it can be difficult to treat. However, early diagnosis and treatment can improve the chances of a successful outcome.

8.      P. aeruginosa is known for its ability to produce a variety of virulence factors, including toxins, enzymes, and biofilms, which help it evade the host immune system.

9.      It can produce a blue-green pigment called pyocyanin, which gives it its characteristic blue-green colour and can contribute to the virulence of the bacterium.

10.      P. aeruginosa is a significant cause of hospital-acquired infections and is often found in healthcare settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and dialysis centres. It is also a common cause of nosocomial pneumonia, which is pneumonia that is acquired during a hospital stay.

Sources

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2.       Iglewski, B. (no date) Pseudomonas - medical microbiology - NCBI bookshelf, National Library of Medicine. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8326/.

3.       Arai, H. (2011) Regulation and function of versatile aerobic and anaerobic respiratory metabolism in pseudomonas aeruginosa, Frontiersin. Frontiersin. Available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2011.00103/full.

4.       Iglewski, B. (no date) Pseudomonas - medical microbiology - NCBI bookshelf, National Library of Medicine. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8326/.

5.       Maurice, N.M., Bedi, B. and Sadikot, R.T. (2018) American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Available at: https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1165/rcmb.2017-0321TR.

6.       Qureshi, S. (2020) Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology. Medscape. Available at: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/226748-overview.

7.       Pang, Z., Raudonis, R., Glick, B.R., Lin, T.J. and Cheng, Z., 2019. Antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: mechanisms and alternative therapeutic strategies. Biotechnology advances, 37(1), pp.177-192.

8.       Jurado-Martín, I., Sainz-Mejías, M. and McClean, S., 2021. Pseudomonas aeruginosa: An audacious pathogen with an adaptable arsenal of virulence factors. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(6), p.3128.

9.       Pyocyanine (2008) Pyocyanine - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. Science Direct. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/nursing-and-health-professions/pyocyanine.

10.    Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection (2019) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/hai/organisms/pseudomonas.html.