Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

 

An infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa can impact your skin, blood, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and other body parts . Pseudomonas bacteria are common in the environment, particularly in produce, soil, and water. The location of the infection in your body affects the symptoms. Typically, at least one type of antibiotic is used in treatment.

What is an infection of Pseudomonas?

A sickness caused by strains (types) of the Pseudomonas bacterium is known as a pseudomonas infection. The most common type of Pseudomonas that infects humans is P. aeruginosa. The most common environments for P. aeruginosa include soil, plants, and water. However, it also appears in damp or moist places, such as sinks or bathtubs. Even though you might have it on your skin, it might not infect you. Medical professionals sometimes refer to this as bacterial colonization.

Getting rid of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection might be difficult. Certain antibiotics that normally treat the illness no longer work because the bacteria have evolved (changed in response to treatments) (antibiotic resistance).

Also Read: Shigella Infection (shigellosis): Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention

What is the level of severity of an infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa?

It depends. People with a healthy immune system are rarely infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, if you have a weakened immune system, it can be serious and even deadly. The following are typical reasons for a compromised immune system:

• Autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus

• Cancer

• Fibrosis with cysts

• Diabetes

• AIDS and HIV

• Kidney disease

• Liver disease

• Organ transplants, including lung and heart transplants

• Pregnancy

• Severe burns

• Surgery.

What kinds of infections are caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa?

Numerous infections can be brought on by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These could consist of:

• Infection in the blood (septicemia)

• Infection of the ears

• Eye infection

• Pneumonia (lung infection)

• Inflammation of the skin (cellulitis)

• Infections of the urinary tract (UTIs)

Additionally, it may result in gastrointestinal (GI) tract infections. Your gastrointestinal system consists of:

• Esophagus 

• Mouth

• Stomach

• Small intestine

• Large intestine

• Butthole, ( anus)

What symptoms indicate an infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa?

The location of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in your body determines the symptoms. Among your symptoms could be:


Blood:

• It cools

• Experiencing extreme fatigue

• Fever

• Discomfort in the joints

• Hypotension (low blood pressure)

• Pain in the muscles

Ear

• Earache

• Discharge, or fluid that exits your ear

• Itching

• Swelling

• Loss of hearing

Gastrointestinal tract:

• A headache

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting and nausea

Eye:

• Inflammation

• Pain

• Pus

• Red eyes 

• Swelling

• Sudden loss of vision

 Lung:

• Coughs

•  Chills

• fever

• Having difficulty breathing

Skin:

• Bumps that are discolored (red, brown, or purple)

• Clear or pink fluid with an unpleasant odor that comes out of a wound (draining wound)

• Itching

• pus-filled, white or yellow pimples (abscess)

The urinary tract:

• Urge incontinence is the sudden or uncontrollable need to urinate

• Urinary incontinence, or leaking urine when without intending to

• Discomfort in the vicinity of your pelvis

• Dysuria, or pain during urinating

• Urinating more frequently than normal

Causes:

Pseudomonas infections are caused by many types of bacteria belonging to the genus (grouping) Pseudomonas, with P. aeruginosa being the most often occurring kind. There are numerous ways that pseudomonas bacteria can increase and spread, including:

• Water from kitchens, humidifiers, pools, hot tubs, sinks, and baths

• Soil

• Food

• Medical devices that have been tainted, such as a urine catheter or ventilators

• Contact with the skin

Diagnoses:

Following a review of your medical history, an inquiry about your symptoms, and a physical examination, a healthcare professional can make the diagnosis of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. This evaluation may involve:

• Auscultation, or listening to your heart and lungs with a stethoscope.

• Feeling your abdomen.

• Examining your skin.

• Looking at your eyes.

•  To corroborate their diagnosis, they will also request testing.

In order to identify a Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, what tests will be performed?
To check for indications of infection in other parts of your body, a medical professional could prescribe imaging studies. These examinations could consist of:

• X-rays

• Ultrasound

• MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging

• CT scan (computed tomography)

 To check for Pseudomonas bacteria, they could also collect tissue or bodily fluid samples and submit them to a laboratory.

How is an infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa treated?

Antibiotics are typically prescribed by a medical professional to treat a Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. One or more of the following could be prescribed by them:
Your doctor can prescribe an antibiotic course if your infection is not too severe. This medication may be used orally as pills, eye or ear drops, or a lotion, depending on the location of your illness.

You may need to get antibiotics by IV for weeks if the infection is severe. These infections can be challenging to treat since each strain of the Pseudomonas bacterium is slightly different and is always evolving. You may frequently need to take many antibiotics.

• Aztreonam.

• Carbapenems.

• Ceftazidime.

• Ciprofloxacin.

• Gentamicin.

• Ticarcillin.

• Ureidopenicillins.

These antibiotics can be taken intravenously (by a needle in a vein), topically (as a cream or lotion applied to your skin), or orally (as a pill taken with water). Depending on how bad your infection is, you might need to take antibiotics for weeks or even months.

Particularly if you get an infection from a hospital or other healthcare facility, Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections are becoming more resistant to various medications. Even if you feel better, you must take the antibiotics exactly as directed by your doctor to finish the full course. A Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection may recur and become more difficult to cure if you don't.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa that is resistant to carbapenem

Carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or CRPA, is a tiny fraction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria that are resistant to carbapenem medicines. Carbapenemases are produced by them. Enzymes known as carbapenemases stop carbapenem and other beta-lactam (β-lactam) antibiotics from doing their job. The majority of antibiotics on the market are ineffective against carbapenemase-producing (CP) CRPA. Resistance spreads quickly because CP-CRPA can share its carbapenemase genetic code with other bacteria.

At the moment, CP-CRPA is uncommon in the US. By identifying multidrug-resistant organisms and attempting to stop transmission in the United States, healthcare providers are working to prevent the transmission of illnesses.

How soon will I feel better following treatment?

A few days after beginning treatment, you should begin to feel better if you have a minor Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. After a serious infection, recovery could take weeks or even months.

Prevention:

The following tips will help reduce your chance of contracting a Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection:

• Regularly wash your hands. The best defense against illness is to wash your hands with clean water and antibacterial soap. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if you are unable to wash your hands.

• Clean the produce. Wash fruits and vegetables well using clean water and, if you can, fruit/vegetable soap.

• Drink clean water. Make sure to drink bottled, canned, boiled, or chemically treated water if you don't have access to clean water.

• Make sure all surfaces are spotless. High-touch surfaces should be cleaned with disinfecting agents.

• Steer clear of filthy pools and hot tubs. Be sure to add chlorine to your pool or hot tub water regularly. 

• Take care of your health. Take medications exactly as directed by your doctor if they are prescribed to treat a medical condition. Never miss a dosage. Keep an eye out for any indications of infection following surgery. Contact your physician right away if you experience pain, fever, redness or discharge at the surgical site.

References:

• Zhang Y, Li Y, Zeng J, et al. Risk Factors for Mortality of Inpatients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bacteremia in China: Impact of Resistance Profile in the Mortality (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7669529/). Infect Drug Resist. 2020 Nov 12;13:4115-4123. Accessed 7/21/2023.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.). Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Healthcare Settings (https://www.cdc.gov/hai/organisms/pseudomonas.html). Updated 11/13/2019. Accessed 7/26/2023.

• Wilson MG, Pandey S. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557831/). 2022 Aug 28. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Accessed 7/21/2023.

• Merck Manual, Consumer Version. Pseudomonas Infections (https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/infections/bacterial-infections-gram-negative-bacteria/pseudomonas-infections). Updated 9/2022. Accessed 7/21/2023.

• Abouelhassan Y, Gill CM, Nicolau DP. Assessing the In Vivo Efficacy of Rational Antibiotics and Combinations Against Difficult-To-Treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa Producing GES β-lactamases (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37357368/). J Antimicrob Chemother. 2023. Accessed 7/21/2023.