What is Pseudomonas Aeruginosa?
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a type of bacteria commonly found in the environment. It is classified as a Hospital Acquired Infection (HAI) and can cause infections in the blood, lungs, or other parts of the body after surgery. Pseudomonas bacteria are constantly finding new ways to avoid the effects of the antibiotics used to treat the infections they cause. According to the 2019 AR Threats Reportopen_in_new, multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa caused an estimated 32,600 infections among hospitalized patients and 2,700 estimated deaths in the U.S. — in 2017 alone.
Where is it Found?
What Does it Infect?
How Does it Spread?
Preventing the Spread of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
Outbreaks from Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been traced to a variety of sourcesopen_in_new, including respiratory therapy equipment, endoscopes, contaminated mattresses, disinfectants, contaminated water supplies, IV solutions, sinks, taps, mops, and environmental sources such as pools used for physical therapy or hydrotherapy.
It is also constantly reintroduced into the hospitalopen_in_new environment on fruits, plants, vegetables, and patients transferred from other facilities. Spread occurs from patient to patient on the hands of hospital personnel, by direct patient contact with contaminated reservoirs, and by the ingestion of contaminated foods and water.
The CDC lists the following practices to avoid spreading this P. aeruginosa in healthcare facilities:
- Careful attention to regular hand hygiene, particularly, before and after caring for wounds or touching a medical device
- Daily cleaning of patient rooms and shared equipment
- A water management programopen_in_new that is effective in limiting opportunistic pathogens from growing and spreading in each healthcare facility
Get More Protection with UV Disinfection
Germicidal UV-C air and surface disinfection can bolster existing preventative measures — inactivating Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patient rooms and on medical devices.
Our UV water purifiers designed for commercial and industrial use are effective in limiting many opportunistic pathogens in physical therapy and hydrotherapy pools — preventing them from spreading throughout hospitals and healthcare facilities. Shop our products at AtlanticUltraviolet.comopen_in_new.
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Our germicidal lamps produce ultraviolet wavelengths at 254 nanometers, the region of maximum germicidal effectiveness. Read our FAQ blog post to learn more. See dosage data below.
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa: Classification & UV-C Dose for Inactivation
| Organism: | Alternate Name: | Type: | UV Dose*: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Lab Strain) | P. aeruginosa | Bacteria | 3.90 mJ/cm2 |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Environ. Strain) | P. aeruginosa | Bacteria | 10.50 mJ/cm2 |
* Nominal germicidal UV dosage necessary to inactivate better than 99% of microorganism. See sources below.
People at High Risk for a Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Infection
According to the CDC, people with the highest risk for P. aeruginosa infection include patients in hospitals, especially those:
- On breathing machines (ventilators)
- With devices such as catheters
- With wounds from surgery or burns
Sources on Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
The above information can be found on the following pages.
- CDC: Pseudomonas Aeruginosa in Healthcare Settingsopen_in_new
- CDC: Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas Aeruginosaopen_in_new
- CDC: Healthcare Environmental Infection Prevention – Reduce Risk from Wateropen_in_new
- ISID: Guide to Infection Control in the Healthcare Setting – Pseudomonas Aeruginosaopen_in_new
- NCBI: Medical Microbiology, 4th edition – Chapter 27 Pseudomonasopen_in_new
- NCBI: Persistence of Microbial Communities Including Pseudomonas Aeruginosa in a Hospital Environmentopen_in_new
Dosage Source
Sensitivity of Bacteria, Protozoa, Viruses, and Other Microorganisms to Ultraviolet Radiation. Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Volume 126, Article No. 126021. August 20, 2021.
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