Pseudomonadaceae

Question 1

General characteristics

Answer 1

GN rods

• motile via polar flagella
• oxidase positive
• obligate aerobes
• some produce soluble pigments

Question 2

Where are psuedomonas found?

Answer 2

Water, soil, and vegetation

Question 3

What is the ultimate opportunist of the pseudomonas family?

Answer 3

P. aeruginosa

• transient colonizer of skin and mucosa
• is a major nosocomial pathogen of people
• commonly resistant to antibiotics
• produces pyocyanin –> green pigment that reacts with O2 = toxic radials

Question 4

What is P. aeruginosa susceptible to?

Answer 4

Ciprofloxacin and genamicin

Question 5

What do burn patients typically die from?

Answer 5

Pseudomonas infections

Question 6

Disease

Answer 6

Wound abscesses and UTI infections in ALL species

- may replace bacteria that have been eliminated by antimicrobial therapy

Question 7

Dog and cat

Answer 7

Prostatitis, cystitis, dermatitis, chronic purulent otitis externa, ulcerative keratitis

Question 8

Cattle

Answer 8

Mastitis = infertility and abortion

• spread by coitus
• ulcerative keratitis, conjunctivitis

Question 9

Poultry/fowl

Answer 9

Septicemia, keratitis

Question 10

Sheep

Answer 10

Dermatitis (fleece rot)

Question 11

Mink and chinchillas

Answer 11

Hemorrhagic pneumonia and septicemia

Question 12

Pathogenesis

Answer 12

Complex due to invasiveness, toxinogenic, and virulence factors of P. aeruginosa

Question 13

Virulence factors

Answer 13

• surface slime: inhibits complement and phagocytosis
• type 3 secretion system
• proteases
• fimbriae
• antimicrobial resistance: permeability barrier, R plasmids, efflux pumps

Question 14

Exotoxins of the type 3 secretion system

Answer 14

• A: inhibits protein synthesis
• S and T: interrupt actin cytoskeleton functions
• U: cytotoxin
• Y: adenlyate cyclase

Question 15

Control

Answer 15

Proper disinfection and drying of hospital surgical suite and instruments
- proper use of antimicrobial therapy