Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in humans can be difficult to treat, as this bacteria is naturally antibiotic-resistant1. P. aeruginosa is an opportunist, with most infections occurring when someone is already unwell and immunity is low. P. aeruginosa can use a lot of substances as food sources, making it very adaptable, however, it does require iron to survive.
P. aeruginosa is a cause of urinary tract infections2 in humans, particularly anyone who has a catheter, with the biofilms worsening these infections. People without catheters can get UTIs caused by P. aeruginosa, however, with these infections increasingly difficult to treat.
P. aeruginosa can cause vulvovaginal infections, but it is usually other species of this family that cause vulvar or vaginal infections3.
P. aeruginosa can produce a variety of pigments, which may change vaginal discharge – blue, red, yellow and brown, which may combine with other vaginal fluids to create different colours.
Mainly an aerobe, but can become anaerobic at times (facultative anaerobe/aerobe).
References
- 1.Mulu W, Yimer M, Zenebe Y, Abera B. Common causes of vaginal infections and antibiotic susceptibility of aerobic bacterial isolates in women of reproductive age attending at Felegehiwot referral Hospital, Ethiopia: a cross sectional study. BMC Women’s Health. Published online May 13, 2015. doi:10.1186/s12905-015-0197-y
- 2.Mittal R, Aggarwal S, Sharma S, Chhibber S, Harjai K. Urinary tract infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa: A minireview. Journal of Infection and Public Health. Published online 2009:101-111. doi:10.1016/j.jiph.2009.08.003
- 3.Hyman RW, Fukushima M, Diamond L, Kumm J, Giudice LC, Davis RW. Microbes on the human vaginal epithelium. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Published online May 23, 2005:7952-7957. doi:10.1073/pnas.0503236102
