Pseudomonas aeruginosa: A review of their Pathogenesis and Prevalence in Clinical Settings and the Environment

The genus Pseudomonas consists of more than 120 species that are ubiquitous in moist environments such as water and soil ecosystems andare pathogenic to animals and humans. Within the genus of Pseudomonas, P. aeruginosa is most frequently associated with human infections.The bacterium is regarded as an opportunistic pathogen, primarily causing nosocomial infections in immunocompromised patients. Theexisting knowledge regarding the pathogenesis of P. aeruginosa has mainly been obtained through studying clinical isolates; particularlythose involved in causing chronic lung infection in cystic fibrosis patients. Nosocomial infections commonly associated with P. aeruginosainclude ventilator-associated pneumonia, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, wound infections in severe burn patients and septicaemiawith their pathogenesis shown to be multifactorial. The bacterium is also capable of producing a number of toxins via the type III secretionsystem, as well as secreting enzymes and proteins including elastase, phospholipase C and siderophores. However, P. aeruginosa is also awaterborne pathogen, commonly found in environmental waters as well as in other sources such as sewage treatment plants. The public healthimplication of these bacteria whilst in the environment has not been fully investigated. Here we review our present knowledge about thepathogenesis of P. aeruginosa in clinical settings and the environment

Keywords:

Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Virulence factors , Pathogenesis