Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the third highest source of healthcare-related infections.
Unlike Legionella pneumophila, this germ has few nutritional requirements because it is able to use carbon sources. It needs two factors to develop:
- water at a temperature between 4°C (40°F) and 42°C (108°F), with optimum proliferation between 30°C (86°F) and 37°C (99°F),
- the possibility of carrying out oxidation.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is mostly transmitted by hand by healthcare staff and via infected medical equipment. It can also spread via aerosols from the shower. Invasive surgery also presents a higher risk of transmission of this type of infectious agent.
The infections are very varied (respiratory, urinary, dermatological, septicaemia, etc.) with serious consequences (to the order of 50% mortality for highly vulnerable patients in resuscitation wards) specifically related to their very high resistance to antibiotics.
