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MICROBILOGY

PSEUDOMONAS


Scanning electron micrograph of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Gram negative bacilli that live in water and are capable of prolonged survival in moist and dry environments. The species most commonly encountered is Pseudomonas aeruginosa but there are many other species of Pseudomonas that can cause problems in endoscopy.

Disease

Pseudomonas is a common hospital environmental pathogen that can cause:
  • pneumonia
  • urinary tract infections
  • burn and wound infections
  • eye infections
  • bacteraemia

Mode of transmission

Transmission is almost always as a result of contact with environmental reservoirs or from person to person via HCW's

Significance in endoscopy

Endoscopy and accessory contamination has almost invariably been acquired from the hospital environment rather than from previous patients. Historically, endoscopy-associated Pseudomonas infections have largely been confined to E.R.C.P
Clinical infections with Pseudomonas, however, may become significant in the severely immunosuppressed patient, particularly when procedures invloving tissue disruption are undertaken. Colonisation of automatic disinfectors has resulted in serious disease transmission to patients.
This shows a highly motile culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa taken with phase contrast at 1000x.