This may occur via the contaminated hands of healthcare personnel, or through direct contact with contaminated environmental surfaces or equipment. Patients may be exposed to Pseudomonas when they are on ventilators, or have intravenous catheters, urinary catheters, or wounds that are caused by either injury or due to surgical procedures.
Because these medical devices and conditions are associated with breaks in the skin or other mucous membranes, this may allow Pseudomonas to enter the body and cause infection. The effects of P. To prevent spreading Pseudomonas infections between patients, healthcare personnel must follow specific infection control precautions. These precautions may include strict adherence to hand hygiene and wearing gowns and gloves when they enter rooms where patients infected with Pseudomonas are staying.
Healthcare facilities must also follow proper cleaning procedures to prevent the spread of Pseudomonas. Certain protocols should be followed to prevent device-associated infections, wound infections and SSIs. A breakdown in these protocols may lead to infections with Pseudomonas or other healthcare pathogens. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Healthcare Settings. Minus Related Pages. On This Page. How common are these infections? Top of Page. Who is at risk?
Those most at risk include patients in hospitals, especially those: on breathing machines ventilators with devices such as catheters with wounds from surgery or burns Top of Page. How is it spread?
How can you avoid getting an infection? Patients and caregivers should: keep their hands clean to avoid getting sick and spreading germs that can cause infections wash their hands with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer, particularly before and after caring for wounds or touching a medical device remind healthcare providers and caregivers to clean their hands before touching the patient or handling medical devices allow healthcare staff to clean their room daily when in a healthcare setting Healthcare providers should pay careful attention to recommended infection control practices, including hand hygiene and environmental cleaning e.
How are these infections treated? Pseudomonal infections that enter the bloodstream can also lead to respiratory failure, shock, and death. Being in a healthcare setting puts you at the highest risk of P. In , P. Patients who are on breathing machines, catheters, and those with wounds are at especially high risk. Pseudomonas is one of the main causes of pneumonia for people on mechanical ventilators, notes the University of Michigan.
People with cystic fibrosis are highly susceptible to pseudomonal lung infections. In fact, approximately half of all people with cystic fibrosis are infected chronically with the bacteria, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Those who are immunocompromised — meaning those with weakened immune systems — are very vulnerable to P. This includes people with HIV , cancer, and transplant patients, people taking drugs that suppress the immune system, and those with a disease that affects the immune system.
Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking. Pseudomonas Aeruginosa in Healthcare Settings. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. November 13, Pseudomonas Infection. University of Michigan Medicine.
January 26, Pseudomonas Infections. Merck Manual. February
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