A multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolate from a lethal case of sepsis induces necrosis of human neutrophils.
A multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (r-Pa) was isolated from a lethal case of sepsis in a bone marrow transplant recipient. Genotypic analysis of P. aeruginosa isolates demonstrated that sepsis was secondary to gut colonization. The interactions between r-Pa and patient's neutrophils were studied. The results indicate that: (1) the patient's neutrophil killing activity and nitric oxide production against r-Pa or drug sensitive P. aeruginosa (s-Pa) were profoundly impaired; (2) r-Pa cells, but not s-Pa cells or their filtered culture supernatants, induced necrosis of healthy donor neutrophils. Neutrophil necrosis emerges as a remarkable event in the pathogenesis of P. aeruginosa sepsis.
Mencacci
Antonella
A
Microbiology Section, Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via del Giochetto, 06122 Perugia, Italy.
Cenci
Elio
E
Repetto
Antonella
A
Mazzolla
Rosanna
R
Bistoni
Francesco
F
Aversa
Franco
F
Aloisi
Teresa
T
Vecchiarelli
Anna
A
D000328:Adult; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000382:microbiology; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000503:physiopathology*