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Pseudomonas is a common environmental bacterium that can cause a variety of infections in humans and animals. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most medically important species and is resistant to salt, some antiseptics, and some antibiotics. It is a significant proportion of hospital-acquired infections and can cause life-threatening pneumonia in hospital patients. Other types of infections include urinary tract infections, surgical incision infections, and blood poisoning. Outside of the hospital, pseudomonas infections are the most common cause of ear infections and corneal ulcers. Some bacterial species formerly included in the genus Pseudomonas have been renamed due to genetic classification systems.
The genus of bacteria Pseudomonas is a common environmental bacterium and the most important medically important pseudomonas, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, lives on about half of the human population. A wide variety of Pseudomonas infections affect humans and other animals, such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections, heart infections, ear infections, and joint infections. Although the genus is ubiquitous in the environment, the bacteria tend to be opportunistic pathogens, meaning they generally only become dangerous in sick people.
Pseudomonas species tend to live in moist areas, such as soil or water. They also survive well in sinks, hot tubs, and pools with low chlorine levels. When they infect people, they live in the gut, ears or on the skin.
The most medically important species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is resistant to salt, some antiseptics and some antibiotics. Pseudomonas aeruginosa can also survive on limited nutrients. All of these features indicate that pseudomonas infections are a significant proportion of hospital-acquired infections.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections are the leading cause of life-threatening pneumonia in hospital patients using a ventilator or in the ICU. This type of bacteria is also a major cause of infection in patients with cystic fibrosis, cancer and burns, with about half of affected patients dying from the infection. Other types of hospital-acquired pseudomonas infections are urinary tract infections, surgical incision infections, and blood poisoning. Sometimes bacteria that have invaded the bloodstream can pass into the bones and joints and cause infection. The bacteria could also cause heart infections through intravenous drug use or after heart valve surgery.
Outside of the hospital, pseudomonas infections are the most common cause of ear infections and corneal ulcers. The bacterium can also infect the eyes of contact lens users and is a common cause of urinary tract infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa can also infect soft tissue, joint, or bone in the body when introduced through puncture wounds. Bacteria in inadequately sanitized water can also cause “swimmer’s ear,” or a disease called folliculitis, which infects hair follicles in the skin, usually in people who use hot tubs.
Some bacterial species formerly included in the genus Pseudomonas have been renamed due to genetic classification systems. These bacteria could still be referred to as pseudomonas, but are more correctly known by their new names. For example, the name Burkholderia has replaced Pseudomonas in some medically relevant species such as Burkolderia cepacia and Burkolderia pseudomallei. These bacteria also cause opportunistic infections.
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