Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative rod that grows in aerobic conditions. It is a multidrug-resistant pathogen associated with hospital-acquired infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia, sepsis, and urinary tract infections. This bacterium is considered an opportunistic organism because it can cause very serious infections in those with preexisting conditions – most notably cystic fibrosis and immunocompromised patients. When P. aeruginosa colonizes critical body organisms such as the lungs, kidneys, and urinary tract, the infection can be fatal without antibiotic intervention. It is very important to administer treatment based on laboratory sensitivities. A sample should be collected from the infection site, cultured, identified, and tested against many different antibiotic classes for sensitivity.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a citrate, catalase, and oxidase positive organism. It also produces indophenol oxidase, which renders a positive oxidase test result – distinguishing P. aeruginosa from other gram-negative rods. On sheep blood agar, P. aeruginosa has a metallic, blue-green look, caused by the pigments pyocyanin and pyoverdin. It also produces a grape or aged wine odor. It can be found in soil, water, skin flora, and man-made environments.
Solaris Diagnostics Laboratory uses BD PHOENIX Automated identification and susceptibility testing system to provide rapid, accurate, and reliable bacterial detection of known and emerging antimicrobial resistance to the clinicians and laboratories.
References:
https://www.bd.com/en-us
https://www.cdc.gov/hai/organisms/pseudomonas.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557831/
Benefits of Working with Solaris Diagnostics
Now you can provide patients with the quickest and most accurate diagnosis possible from our high-complexity, CLIA accredited laboratory. Choose Solaris Diagnostics for:
- Simple collection
- Results by 5:00 pm on the day the lab receives the specimen
- Direct access to experienced scientific staff
- Among the most personal customer service experiences in the industry
Our experts assist clinicians and health care providers in rapidly identifying the pathogens and underlying causes of disease. We know that fast and accurate diagnoses lead to better patient outcomes.
For more information call 844-550-0308 to speak with one of our staff. You may also use the form on our Contact Us page.
