STRUCTURE AND PHYSIOLOGY
- Hello, I am a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium that causes disease in animals and humans
- I am a species of considerable medical importance as I infect the airways, urinary tracts, burns, wounds, and can also cause other supplementary blood infections.
- Though I am not extremely virulent like my fellow bacterial species, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes, I am very capable of extensive colonisation and can also form aggregates of enduring biofilms.
- I am generally considered as a model organism for the study of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
TRANSMISSION AND DISEASE
- I am a multi-drug resistant pathogen recognised for my ubiquity.
- I am associated with serious hospital acquired infections such as ventilator-associated pneumonia and various sepsis syndromes.
- I am considered opportunistic, as I can cause serious infections during existing diseases such as cystic fibrosis and traumatic burns
- Though it may seem like my source of attack are the immune compromised, I can also infect the immune competent as is the case in hot tub folliculitis
TREATMENT OF INFECTION
- Treatment of infections caused by me can be difficult due to my natural resistance to antibiotics. When more advanced antibiotic drug regimens are used against me, adverse effects may result.
- Symptoms of infections normally disappear without treatment after a week. However, in some cases, patients may be required to take in plenty of fluids in order to prevent dehydration.
DISINFECTION
- Due to my extensive pathogenicity and ability to form biofilms, I am a common bacterium for measuring disinfectant efficacy.