Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative bacterium found in soil and water. It causes opportunistic infections, especially when host defenses are weakened or medical devices provide a route into the body.

Biofilm: A structured community of microorganisms embedded in a self-produced matrix attached to a surface. P. aeruginosa biofilms protect bacterial communities on tissues and medical devices.
Cystic fibrosis: An inherited disorder in which defective ion transport causes thick secretions and progressive damage to several organs. Chronic P. aeruginosa airway infection is a major complication for many people with cystic fibrosis.
Gram-negative bacteria: Bacteria with a thin peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane that do not retain the crystal violet stain in Gram staining. P. aeruginosa belongs to this broad bacterial group.
Staphylococcus aureus: A Gram-positive bacterium that commonly colonizes skin and can cause infections ranging from minor lesions to bloodstream disease. Its Gram-positive cell envelope contrasts with P. aeruginosa's Gram-negative outer membrane.
Quorum sensing: Cell-to-cell communication in which microorganisms use signal molecules to coordinate gene expression according to population density. P. aeruginosa uses quorum sensing to regulate virulence factors and biofilm behaviors.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia: Pneumonia that develops in a person receiving mechanical ventilation. P. aeruginosa can colonize ventilator equipment and cause this hospital-acquired infection.
Pseudomonas: A genus of rod-shaped, aerobic bacteria commonly found in soil, water, and other environments. P. aeruginosa is one species within this environmentally widespread genus.
Acinetobacter baumannii: A Gram-negative bacterium that causes healthcare-associated infections and can acquire extensive antibiotic resistance. Both are persistent hospital pathogens, but they belong to different bacterial genera.
Type III secretion system: A protein-delivery apparatus that some bacteria use to inject effector proteins into host cells. P. aeruginosa injects toxins into host cells through this apparatus.
Burn infection: An infection of damaged skin and underlying tissue after a burn injury. Burn wounds can offer P. aeruginosa a vulnerable surface for invasion.

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