Antibiotic resistance and clinical infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

BACTERIA

Pseudomonas Bacteria

This study concerns the Pseudomonas type bacterium strains that have, in recent years, become more of a concern for medical professionals. The primary issue is that several different types of the bacteria, especially pseudomonas aeruginosa, have been shown to have a resistance to many common antibiotics. Another issue with this genus is that it is a very common type of bacteria that naturally occurs in the soil, in plant matter and on humans. Therefore, it has been widely studied, and the dangers of pseudomonas infection have been widely documented.

Using different imaging techniques the infection from pseudomonas aerignosa has been shown in different types of pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, endocarditis, and bone and joint infections. The damage done to different types of tissue shows up on scans as fibrosis, lesions, erosions and other evident deteriorations. The issue is both that this common bacterium can cause significant cellular damage and that it is becoming more resistant to treatment.

It is an important topic for healthcare workers because of its virulence. The pseudomonas genus in general (pseudomonas aeruginosa in particular) has become a major health issue in recent years. This does not mean that the bacterium did not have negative health effects before, but because of its ability to form antibiotic resistant strains the bacterium is of a particular danger. Because of this present danger this seemed like an essential topic to research from the umbrella topic of challenges to healthcare.

Any research project that furthers professional development is worthy of study, and completing this exercise will allow students to become more familiar with methods of research including how to search for material and place it in a coherent context. The value of this research can be seen in later studies that must be done. It is a necessary part of any course of study for a healthcare professional.

Section Two

Focus: The primary intention of this study is to show how prevalent and dangerous pseudomonas is in the population. This research will show that the bacterium is present in many different common areas of everyday life and how infection can be avoided.

Pseudomonas Bacteria and the Challenges it Offers to Healthcare.

Section Four

Note: Since giving the required two bullet points for each entry and five for key entries would take this project far beyond the required 6 pages, I am going to simply list the sources here, send the articles to you and complete the last section with three of these sources as the "key sources."

Adeyemi, A.I., Sulaiman, A.A., Solomon, B.B., Chinedu, O.A., & Victor, I.A. (2010). Bacterial bloodstream infections in HIV-affected adults attending a Lagos teaching hospital. Journal of Health Population & Nutrition, 28(4), 318-328.

Annand, J.W., Bajaj, N., Sheth, A., Burgess, J., & Brooke, J.S. (2009). Potential pathogens and effective disinfectants at a large urban United States university. Journal of Environmental Health, 71(6), 24-32.

Dau, B., Oda, G., & Holodniy, M. (2009). Infectious complications in OIF/OEF veterans with traumatic brain injury. Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development, 46(6), 371-392.

Greene, L.A. (2000). New antibiotics put bacteria in a bind. Environmental Health Perspectives, 108(12), 551.

Khorshidi, A., & Sharif, A.R. (2010). Imipenem resistance among gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria in hospitalized patients. Iranian Journal of Public Health, 39(2), 110-118.

Lee, J., & Deininger, R.A. (2010). Rapid detection of enterococci in marine beach water by immunomagnetic capture and bioluminescence and its comparison with conventional methods. Journal of Environmental Health, 72(9), 8-22.

Loving, A. L, & Perz, J. (2007). Microbial flora on restaurant beverage lemon slices. Journal of Environmental Health, 70(5), 18-30.

Perspectives in Public Health. (2012). Managing water safety in healthcare: A snapshot of a conference by the Royal Society for Public Health. Perspectives in Public Health, 132, 202-203.

Potera, C. (2012). Common bacterium induces histamine production in neutrophils. Environmental Health Perspectives, 120(5), 190.

Sandhu, A., Gross, M., Wylie, J., Van Caeseele, P., & Plourde, P. (2007). Pseudomonas aeruginosa necrotizing chondritis complicating high helical ear piercing case report: clinical and public health perspectives. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 98(1), 74-83.

Sapkota, A.R., Berger, S., & Vogel, T.M. (2010). Human pathogens abundant in the bacterial metagenome of cigarettes. Environmental Health Perspectives, 118(3), 351-374.

Schillinger, J., & Knorr, S.D.V. (2004). Drinking-water quality and issues associated with water vending machines in the City of Los Angeles. Journal of Environmental Health, 66(6), 25-43.

Stamper, D.M., Holm, E.R., & Brizzolara, R.A. (2008). Exposure times and energy densities for ultrasonic disinfection of Escherichia coli, pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus avium, and sewage. Journal of Environmental Engineering and Science, 7(2), 139-151.

Stein, R.A. (2011). Antibiotic resistance: A global, interdisciplinary concern. American Biology Teacher, 73(6), 314-340.

World Health Organization (WHO). (1994). Therapeutic approaches to Cystic Fibrosis: Memorandum from a joint WHO/ICF (M)A meeting. Bulletin of the World Health Organizations, 72(3), 341-358.

Section Five

Following are the three key sources used in guiding this research.

Greene, L.A. (2000). New antibiotics put bacteria in a bind. Environmental Health Perspectives, 108(12), 551.

This article was written more than a decade ago and talks about then revolutionary concepts in the fight to stave off the resistance that bacteria were gaining to antibiotics. The article discusses a study conducted by a chemist at the Scripps Research Institute which attempted to bind certain types of antibiotics to bacterial RNA. This technique apparently helped the scientists determine if it was possible to interrupt the development of resistance prior to its happening. This article is foundational in that it provides research into one of the first studies conducted regarding methods for controlling the impending decline of antibiotic usefulness. The article explains how antibiotics, which are the only useful tools in fighting bacterial infections, have been used historically, how they have decreased in value to fight infections, and how this new research can possibly greatly increase the effectiveness of future antibiotics.

This article would be used for its information regarding methods for combatting the increasing ineffectiveness of antibiotics. Since much of the proposed essay would discuss how pseudomonas has become more resistant to antibiotics in recent years, it is necessary to have other articles which discuss studies that seek to alleviate this problem. After reading many articles which talked about the prevalence of pseudomonas in various common spaces, it is essential for healthcare workers to understand that there are possible methods to overcome this alarming trend. This article helps the professional better understand where that research comes from and where it is going.

Perspectives in Public Health. (2012). Managing water safety in healthcare: A snapshot of a conference by the Royal Society for Public Health. Perspectives in Public Health, 132, 202-203.

This article is a series of vignettes which describe the proceedings at a conference held by the World Health Organizations. The conference included many different notable researchers who have been looking at the issue of waterborne bacterial infections in hospital settings. This is particularly concerning due to the increase in patients who have secondary infections after hospital stays. The conference looked at the prevalence of waterborne pathogens, where they come from and methods that have been used to mediate them.

The various lectures at the conference are summarized for the reader which makes this a particularly useful article. Since waterborne infections are among the major problems discussed in the articles gathered (this pathway seems to be one of the most common for the transference of pseudomonas aeruginosa), this article gives more information about how this problem is conveyed than any other. It is a seminal article in that it is a type of meta-study which looks at the problem from many angles and through the research of many different experts. It is, again, a foundational article to the research being conducted.

This particular article provided more understanding of the overall concept being research and gave direction to the study of the pseudomonas bacteria. Even though the article only discusses waterborne infections in hospitals, it gives information on the danger and spread of the bacteria in other areas also. The methods that the various researchers use to stop the spread of the bacteria is also valuable.

Stein, R.A. (2011). Antibiotic resistance: A global, interdisciplinary concern. American Biology Teacher, 73(6), 314-340.

The facts presented in this article are essential knowledge for the underpinnings of any article which discusses the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics. The author begins his discussion when antibiotics were first discovered and points out that resistant strains of bacteria were already present when penicillin was first commercially introduced. Throughout the years, as more and more types of antibiotics have been introduced, bacteria have evolved methods of combatting the agents that are deadly to them. The author looks at the different products invented by medical scientists for producing antibiotics, and the methods the bacteria then use to overcome their effects. It is a very thorough article which provides a history of the problem, and looks into the development of pseudomonas resistant strains as well as others.

This article provides the ability to look at how bacteria have developed over time and how the means of protecting against them have also evolved. This article is necessary to the research because it describes, in detail, how bacteria become resistant and how antibiotics have been manufactured to overcome the resistance. It is necessary to understand how the bacteria work so that the process can be explained.

This article was probably the most informative regarding the entire history of the battle between bacteria and antibiotics. It provided insights which other articles hinted at, but did not discuss in detail. It is also written in clear language that is understandable.