Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative, oxidase-positive strains bacterium of the genus Pseudomonas. This is a facultative pathogenic bacterium that is widely distributed in nature in humid environments. It occupies almost exclusively immunocompromised patients in hospitals and causes 10% of all nosocomial infections. Proliferating factors for infection are often catheters, skin sores, ventilation systems, or poor home care hygiene. Possible pathogens are tap water, toilets, showers, wash basins, infusion liquids and stored blood.
The symptoms are dependent on the site of infection. Especially in cystic fibrosis patients or in the intensive care unit, pneumonia with a cough and respiratory distress occurs after infection. Infections via bladder catheters often lead to urinary tract infections and renal pelvic inflammation. In wounds skin infection may occur with characteristic green-blue pus. The most pertinent complication is pseudomonas sepsis, which has the highest lethality of all sepsis forms. It is characterized by fever, tachycardia, tachypnoea, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Therapy is often difficult because of multiple antibiotic resistance, so most penicillins and cephalosporins are ineffective. Outside the hospital, too, Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause infections, for example in children in poorly chlorinated swimming pools, ear infections or eye infections. However, even high levels of pathogens are not enough to make it difficult to immunize an immunocompetent person.