title: [Pneumonia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa].
abstract: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the leading causes of Gram-negative nosocomial pneumonia. It is the most common cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia and carries the highest mortality among hospital-acquired infections. P. aeruginosa produces a large number of toxins and surface components that make it especially virulent compared with other microorganisms. These include pili, flagella, membrane bound lipopolysaccharide, and secreted products such as exotoxins A, S and U, elastase, alkaline protease, cytotoxins and phospholipases. The most common mechanism of infection in mechanically ventilated patients is through aspiration of upper respiratory tract secretions previously colonized in the process of routine nursing care or via contaminated hands of hospital personnel. Intravenous therapy with an antipseudomonal regimen should be started immediately when P. aeruginosa pneumonia is suspected or confirmed. Empiric therapy with drugs active against P. aeruginosa should be started, especially in patients who have received previous antibiotics or present late-onset pneumonia.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Crítics, Hospital de Sabadell, Institut Universitari Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Barcelona, España. jvalles@cspt.es
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vallés
authors.forename: Dolors
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mariscal
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D006801:Humans; D017757:Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents