Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Replication of the Ordered, Nonredundant Library of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PA14 Transposon Insertion Mutants
11:35

Replication of the Ordered, Nonredundant Library of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PA14 Transposon Insertion Mutants

Published on: May 4, 2018

Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections: factors relating to mortality with emphasis on resistance pattern and

Millena R S Pinheiro1, Heloisa R Lacerda, Renata G L Melo

  • 1Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, Brazil. millena_pinheiro@hotmail.com

The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases
|March 17, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Older age, septic shock, and hypoalbuminemia increase the risk of death in intensive care unit patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Bacterial resistance did not correlate with mortality, but treatment adequacy did.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Clinical Microbiology

Background:

  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a significant cause of hospital-acquired infections, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs).
  • High mortality rates are associated with P. aeruginosa infections, necessitating identification of key risk factors for death.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate independent risk factors for mortality in ICU patients diagnosed with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.
  • To explore the relationship between bacterial resistance, treatment adequacy, and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective case-control study involving 131 ICU patients with P. aeruginosa infection.
  • Analysis of patient demographics, clinical data, bacterial resistance patterns, treatment strategies, and mortality within 30 days.
  • Multivariate analysis to identify independent risk factors for death.

Main Results:

  • Mortality rate was 51.1% within 30 days of diagnosis.
  • No association found between multidrug or panresistance and death (p=0.26, p=0.42).
  • Adequacy of initial treatment was inversely proportional to bacterial resistance.
  • Independent risk factors for death included older age (OR 1.04), septic shock (OR 15.4), and hypoalbuminemia (OR 0.32).

Conclusions:

  • Older age, septic shock, and hypoalbuminemia are significant independent predictors of mortality in ICU patients with P. aeruginosa infections.
  • While bacterial resistance was not directly linked to mortality, treatment adequacy showed an inverse relationship.
  • Further research into optimal therapeutic strategies, considering potential toxicities, is warranted.

More Related Videos

Use of Artificial Sputum Medium to Test Antibiotic Efficacy Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Conditions More Relevant to the Cystic Fibrosis Lung07:46

Use of Artificial Sputum Medium to Test Antibiotic Efficacy Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Conditions More Relevant to the Cystic Fibrosis Lung

Published on: June 5, 2012

Modeling Persistent Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection in Wounded Zebrafish Larvae06:04

Modeling Persistent Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection in Wounded Zebrafish Larvae

Published on: June 13, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
Pneumonia IV: Management01:28

Pneumonia IV: Management

The treatment of pneumonia varies based on its severity and the causative pathogen. Here is a structured approach to managing pneumonia, integrating pharmaceutical and supportive care strategies.
Bacterial Pneumonia Treatment
For bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics serve as the cornerstone of therapy. Initial treatment often begins with empirical antibiotics, tailored to the anticipated causative organism and adjusted based on culture results. Key antibiotic choices include:
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:29

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract that leads to inflammation of the lung parenchyma, often resulting in the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the alveoli and airways. Unlike the watery, low-protein fluid exudate in pulmonary edema, the exudate in this case is a thick fluid rich in immune cells, proteins, and debris produced during infection and inflammation.This impairs gas exchange and can lead to consolidation of lung tissue. The infection may be caused by a...
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:30

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection that targets the lungs, specifically the alveoli. These tiny air sacs, essential for oxygen exchange, become engorged with pus and fluid, severely hindering breathing, decreasing oxygen absorption, and causing significant pain and discomfort during respiration.
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...