Pseudomonas infections are illnesses that range from mild to severe, depending on the type of patient that it affects. If a patient is in the hospital, or has a compromised immune system, the infection can become very severe. In these cases, the infection can be life threatening. Pseudomonas is a common genus of bacteria, that under specific circumstances, it can cause infection. Well known conditions such as hot tub rash, skin rashes and swimmer’s ear, are examples of conditions caused by Pseudomonas.
According to Medical News today, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322386.php, “In addition to people who are staying in a hospital, have a weakened immune system, or both, there are specific groups who are more vulnerable to Pseudomonas infections.”
These groups include people who:
- have severe burns
- have had surgery or another invasive procedure
- are using a breathing machine or catheter
- are undergoing chemotherapy
- have diabetes
- have Cystic Fibrosis
- have HIV, which can damage the immune system
- have any other medical condition that compromises the immune system
The following discussion and details will focus on the connection between Pseudomonas and Cystic Fibrosis.
Pseudomonas is the most common infection in patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) cites that over 60% of adults with CF have Pseudomonas. According to the CFF, “Research has shown that people with CF can get Pseudomonas from others who are infected with these bacteria. The germs can spread by direct or indirect contact. Direct contact includes things like kissing. Indirect contact includes things like touching objects that have been touched by a person who has the germ, such as doorknobs or pens. This is called cross-infection. Cross-infection can happen in social settings like events or meetings. For many people with CF, infection with Pseudomonas cannot be traced back to exposure to another infected person. In these cases, infection is believed to have occurred by exposure to Pseudomonas in the natural environment.”
In Spring of 2019, a film will be released called, “Five Feet Apart”. The film portrays a couple living with Cystic Fibrosis that are also infected with Pseudomonas. They are instructed to follow the “Six Feet Apart” rule, but they want to be one foot closer to one another, so they stay 5 feet apart. Cited online by https://qz.com/1450251/upcoming-film-five-feet-apart-worries-cystic-fibrosis-advocates/ , the film’s title comes from the “six foot rule,” a guideline set by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation that says two patients must be kept at a minimum of six feet (two meters) apart to minimize the risk of cross infection.
It is very likely that you have met someone with Cystic Fibrosis that is also fighting a Pseudomonas infection, but you could never tell by looking at them. Physically looking at someone, symptoms are not always visible. Here is a picture of a CF patient fighting the disease, along with Pseudomonas. (Photos courtesy of Caitlin Lesperance, who took the photos of her sister who is actively fighting this disease).
Pseudomonas prefers to live in a moist environment, which is typical for a CF patient. Patients with Cystic Fibrosis accumulate a thick sticky mucous in their lungs, creating a desirable environment for Pseudomonas to grow. A microscopic enhanced picture of the bacteria, from the Center of Disease Control, https://www.cdc.gov/hai/organisms/pseudomonas.html ,can be seen below.
According to https://cysticfibrosisnewstoday.com/pseudomonas-aeruginosa/ , “Expert care is necessary to treat CF patients with P. aeruginosa infections. In its early stages, when the pathogen is most susceptible to antimicrobials, inhaled and, possibly, systematic treatments with prophylactic antibiotics are a must, followed by chronic suppressive therapy.
Antibiotics currently marketed for inhalation include nebulized and dry powder forms of tobramycin and colistin and nebulized aztreonam. The prevalence of antibiotic resistance remains a cause of concern, however, and new treatments are needed.”
Prevelence of Pseudomonas in the news:
A simple Google search will reveal a plethora of news articles pertaining to Pseudomonas. The following three articles were posted today, 3/18/2019, and discuss a variety of way that Pseudomonas is relevant in current events and research.
1. Pseudomonas news in relation to Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis News today reports that a study shows that a virus can help treat Pseudomonas in patients diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. According to the article, the study shows that bacteriophages, viruses that naturally infect bacteria, can be used to fight Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the most common bacteria found in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients. These findings are incredible news, as it is a possible new treatment or cure for Pseudomonas in CF patients.
Overall, the results showed that “phage therapy is able to decrease lethality, bacterial burden, and the pro-inflammatory response caused by Pseudomonas infection,” researchers stated. “To our knowledge, this is the first time that phage therapy is used to cure P. aeruginosa infections in a CF animal model,” the team said.
The team concluded that the data suggested that “phage therapy and antibiotic administration appears as a promising therapeutic approach, especially in order to reduce antibiotic doses and treatment duration.”
2. Pseudomonas news in relation to infections acquired in hot tubs
Medical News Today released an article that discusses the causes, symptoms and treatment of hot tub folliculitis. The increase of news releases discussing hot tub folliculitis have made society more aware of what the condition is and how it can affect you. According to the article, “Hot tub folliculitis occurs when a person gets a P. aeruginosa infection. The P. aeruginosa bacteria multiply in hot temperatures and thrive in the type of water conditions found in poorly maintained hot tubs. The bacteria can still survive in chlorinated water.”
It can also grow in other warm, wet places such as:
- contaminated pools
- lakes and rivers
- water slides
- whirlpools
The article discusses causes, symptoms, diagnoses and treatment. The bacteria enter hair follicles, causing itchy, red or purple bumps on the skin.Hot tub folliculitis will often clear up without any treatment within a few days. The infection is usually harmless in otherwise healthy people.
3. Psuedomonas news in relation to a level 2 travel alert in Mexico
Every year, thousands of U.S. residents travel to Mexico for optional surgeries. The article discusses that on “March 18th, 2019 – An updated Level 2 Travel Alert has been issued warning U.S. residents about traveling to Mexico for optional surgeries at a Tijuana hospital.” This travel alert was initially issued on January 9, 2019. Many patients returned to the U.S. after surgery in Mexico, and were diagnosed with Pseudomonas infections. According to CDC data, over half of those infected with these bacteria had surgery at Grand View Hospital, Tijuana.. The other 50 percent of people became infected after surgery at Mexican hospitals and clinics. The U.S. government is recommending that U.S. citizens do not travel to Mexico for surgery, until the Mexican government can confirm that the now present drug resistant form of Pseudomonas is no longer present at their facilities.
Reference list:
Cystic Fibrosis News Today:
https://cysticfibrosisnewstoday.com/pseudomonas-aeruginosa/
Medical News Today:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324721.php
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322386.php
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation:
https://www.cff.org/Life-With-CF/Daily-Life/Germs-and-Staying-Healthy/What-Are-Germs/Pseudomonas/
Five Feet Apart:
https://qz.com/1450251/upcoming-film-five-feet-apart-worries-cystic-fibrosis-advocates/
Center for Disease Control:
https://www.cdc.gov/hai/organisms/pseudomonas.html
Precision Vaccinations:
Caitlin Lesperance