Have you ever heard of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, that is shown in the above picture (this picture is cited from https://institute.yakult.co.jp/bacteria/4211/)? Maybe it is the most notorious bacterium due to its pathogenicity.
P.aeruginosa is a common Gram-negative, aerobic bacterium that can cause diseases in platns and animals. Human is also at the risk of it, but it usually does not have any effect on a person who has a non-compromised immune system. That is to say, a person whose immune system is less active than usual can be infected with it.
Some microbes including P.aeruginosa are known as opportunistic pathogens. An opportunistic infections is defined as an infection caused by pathogens that takes advantages of immunity not normally available (i.e. compromised immunity).
As I said before, a normal person is not infected with it. However, it does not mean its negative effect on human health is negligible. On the contrary, the health risk it causes is of great concern.
When it somehow penetrates into human blood, it can cause bactermea or septicemia (blood poisoning) and produce endotoxins. An endotoxin shock can bring about multiple organ failure, and eventually death.
To make matters worse, P.aeruginosa shows antibiotics resistence to some degree. First generation cephems (β-lactam antibiotics) such as penicillin and cefazolin are not effective against it, neither are tetracyclines and macrolide. Due to its infamous nature shown above, P.aeruginosa sometimes causes a nosocomial infection and is a serious nuisance for many doctors and patients.
This is a quick note about P.taeruginosa, but I would like to put an end to this entry. I'm currently planining to take a look at some other opportunistic pathogens such as Legionella pneumophila in the near furute.
Hope you enjoy this blog. Please do not hesitate to leave a comment or question :)
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