Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Infection: Symptoms and Treatment

This rod-shaped bacteria, pseudomonas aeruginosa, is normally found in water, soil and other places that contain moisture. It is a pathogen that takes advantage of the weakened immune system of an ill person and causes different infections. Thus, these types of pathogen are called 'opportunistic pathogen'.

Causes of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Infection

People having cystic fibrosis are highly susceptible to the pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. People suffering from diseases like AIDS and cancer are also susceptible to the infection, as their immune system is weakened. Pseudomonas aeruginosa are also present in the hospital environment. Thus, people who are hospitalized are also at a high risk of getting infected. The bacteria can spread through the food, medical equipment and solutions used in the hospitals.

The outer coat of the bacteria is protective, and this makes it resistant to many of the antibiotic drugs. The bacteria easily sticks to the body cells. The nutritional requirements of this bacteria are also very less, which makes the bacteria grow at a faster rate in the body. These characteristics of this bacteria, increases the risk of pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in persons with a weakened immune system.

The incubation period of pseudomonas aeruginosa is just one to three days. Pseudomonas aeruginosa can infect any part of the body. The respiratory system, injured bones and joints, urinary tract and the gastric system are the systems of the body, usually affected by these bacteria.

Symptoms of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Infection

The symptoms of pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, depends on the part of the body that is infected. Fever, fatigue, muscle and joint pain are symptoms of pseudomonas bacteremia. The following list gives the respective symptoms of each infection,

• Bone infection: Swollen infected part, redness.
• Ear infection: Pain in the ear, reduced ability to hear, facial paralysis.
• Eye infection: Pain in the eye, reduced vision, swollen eyelids.
• Cystic fibrosis: Cough, reduced appetite, fast breathing, enlargement of abdomen.
• Skin infections: Ulcer that can result in bleeding.

Diagnosis of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Infection

A specialist in infectious diseases can best diagnose the pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. In order to diagnose the infection, the identification of the bacteria is important. In hospitals, number of pseudomonas aeruginosa present is large and many patients may carry this bacteria. Some patients could only be carriers of the bacteria, but may not be infected.

The body fluids from the infected area contain this bacteria. Samples from the infected area are taken for laboratory tests. The bacteria is isolated and cultured in the laboratory. The factors that help to identify the bacteria are:

• They cannot ferment lactose.
• They have a fruity odor.
• They multiply at 42 degree Celsius.
• On exposure to UV rays, these bacteria shows florescence.

Treatment for Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Infection

As mentioned earlier, these bacteria show a resistance to antibiotics. Thus, a combination of two or more antibiotics is used to destroy the bacteria. These antibiotics can be given to the patient in orally (i.e. in the form of tablets) or intravenously. Surgery is performed in some cases, where the bacteria has damaged a tissue. The damaged tissue is surgically removed. Eye infections, heart infections, ear infections and bone-joint infections may also need surgery. If the infection is too severe, like an infection that has caused wounds in the legs, amputation may be necessary. Infections due to pseudomonas aeruginosa can be cured completely in most cases, with the help of medication and surgery. However, for people who are suffering from severe immune disorders like AIDS and cancer, preventing an infection of this bacteria is the only solution.

Mortality rate due to pseudomonas aeruginosa infection is almost 50% and it depends on the type of the infection. Infection to the heart and the lung can be very fatal. Preventive measures should be taken by people who are hospitalized and people with an immune system that has weakened.