Pseudomonas infection is caused by strains of bacteria found widely in the environment; the

most common type causing infections in humans is called Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

What types of infections does Pseudomonas aeruginosa

cause?
Serious Pseudomonas infections usually occur in people in the hospital and/or with weakened
immune systems. Infections of the blood, pneumonia, and infections following surgery can lead
to severe illness and death in these people.
However, healthy people can also develop mild illnesses with Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
especially after exposure to water. Ear infections, especially in children, and more generalized
skin rashes may occur after exposure to inadequately chlorinated hot tubs or swimming
pools. Eye infections have occasionally been reported in persons using extended-wear contact
lenses.

Who is at risk for infection?

Patients in hospitals, especially those on breathing machines, those with devices such as
catheters, and patients with wounds from surgery or from burns are potentially at risk for serious,
life-threatening infections.

How is Pseudomonas aeruginosa spread?

In hospitals, where the most serious infections occur, Pseudomonas can be spread on the hands
of healthcare workers or by equipment that gets contaminated and is not properly cleaned.

How can Pseudomonas infections be prevented?

In the hospital, careful attention to routine infection control practices, especially hand hygiene
and environmental cleaning, can substantially lower the risk of infection.
Outside the hospital, avoid hot tubs or pools that may be poorly maintained, and keep contact
lenses, equipment, and solutions from becoming contaminated.

How are Pseudomonas infections treated?

Pseudomonas infections are generally treated with antibiotics. Unfortunately, in hospitalized
patients, Pseudomonas infections, like those caused by many other hospital bacteria, are
becoming more difficult to treat because of increasing antibiotic resistance. Selecting the right
antibiotic usually requires that a specimen from a patient be sent to a laboratory to test to see
which antibiotics might still be effective for treating the infection.

Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas can be deadly for patients in critical care. An estimated

51,000 healthcare-associated P. aeruginosa infections occur in the United States each year. More
than 6,000 (13%) of these are multidrug-resistant, with roughly 400 deaths per year attributed to
these infections.