A CASE REPORT A 3 yr old female child who had undergone chemotherapy for ALL a few weeks back Now Presented with c/o Ear discharge- 5 days duration Vulvar necrotic lesion 2 days duration O/E Toxic appearance Fever, tachycardia, tachypnoea Hypotension A single vulvar necrotic lesion Other similar lesions on thoracic region & lower extremities
Investigations
Total WBC – 1600/mm3 (N-0%, L-64%, M32%) Hb- 8.5 g/dl CRP- 190 mg/dl Electrolyte imbalance (hypokalemia, hyponatremia) Blood culture& wound swab sent for c/s Initial treatment given Ionotropic support with norepinephrine Mechanical ventilation Empirical antibiotic therapy with Pipzo, Amikacin & Clindamycin
Surgical debridement of necrotic lesion was done
Blood culture & wound swab report was sent to microbiology lab for culture & sensitivity Blood culture & wound swab report Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown in culture sensitive to pipzo, Imipenem, Tobramycin
PSEUDOMONAS INFECTIONS
Pseudomonas spp.
Structure and Physiology Gram-negative rods. Motile with polar flagella. Obligate aerobe. Oxidase-positive. Do not ferment carbohydrates. Minimal nutritional reqts Survive where most organisms cannot;
Resistant to multiple drugs.
P. aeruginosa
Forms round colonies with a fluorescent greenish color, sweet odor, and beta hemolysis. Pyocyanin- nonfluorescent bluish pigment; pyoverdin- fluorescent greenish pigment; pyorubin (red) pyomelanin (black) Some strains have an exo polysaccharide capsule.(alginate)
Epidemiology Wide spread in nature commonly present in moist environments in hospitals (respiratory equipments, cleaning solutions, sinks,bath tubs, toilets, endoscopes, flowers etc.)
Pathogenic when host defences are compromised P. aeruginosa can infect almost any external site or organ, mostly acquired in the hospital esp in ICUs One of the most common causes of hospital acquired pneumonia & wound infections. Pathogenesis Rarely cause disease in healthy host, But is highly virulent when host defences are compromised
Factors predisposing to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections
DISRUPTION OF CUTANEOUS/ MUCOSAL BARRIERS: Burn injury Cystic fibrosis Dermatitis Penetrating trauma Surgery ET intubation Catheterization Injection drug use
IMMUNO SUPPRESSION
Neutropenia WBC defects Antibody defects Defective CMI Extremes of age Diabetes mellitus Steroid therapy Cancer AIDS
DISRUPTION OF NORMAL BACTERIAL FLORA Broad spectrum antibiotic therapy Exposure to hospital environment
Virulence factors associated with Pseudomonas infection STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS Capsule Mucoid polysaccharide inhibits antibiotic (aminoglycoside) killing; Inhibits phagocytosis Pili Adhesin Lipopolysaccharide Endotoxin activity Pyocyanin Impairs ciliary function; mediates tissue damage through production of toxic oxygen radicals
Virulence factors cont.. TOXINS AND ENZYMES Exotoxin A Inhibits protein synthesis; produces tissue damage (e.g., skin, cornea); Immunosuppressive Exotoxin S Inhibits protein synthesis; Cytotoxin (leukocidin) Cytotoxic for eukaryotic membranes
Virulence factors contd… Elastase Destruction of elastin-containing tissues (e.g., blood vessels, lung tissue, skin), collagen, immunoglobulins, and complement factors Alkaline protease, Phospholipase C causes tissue damage;
ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE is also a virulence factor Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
INFECTIONS CAUSED BY PSEUDOMONAS 1) Pulmonary infections 2) Skin infections 3) Urinary Tract Infections 4) Ear infections 5) Eye infections 6) Bacteremia & Endocarditis
1. Pulmonary Infections Asymptomatic colonization Tracheobronchitis Severe necrotizing bronchopneumonia. Colonization is seen in patients with cystic fibrosis, other chronic lung diseases, Neutropenia Pt on ventilator (Ventilator associated pneumonia)
Patients with cystic fibrosis Mucoid strains are commonly isolated from such patients and are difficult to eradicate with antibiotic therapy. The mortality rate is as high as 70%.
2. Primary skin infections A) Burn wound infection common in patients with severe burns. Colonization of a burn wound localized vascular damage tissue necrosis bacteremia
Predisposing factors for burn infections 1. The moist surface of the burn wound 2. Lack of a neutrophilic response to tissue invasion
B) Folliculitis results from immersion in contaminated water (e.g., hot tubs, whirlpools, swimming pools).
C) Fingernail infections
in people whose hands are frequently exposed to water.
Secondary infections with Pseudomonas occur in people who have acne or who depilate their legs
3. Urinary tract Infection in patients with long-term indwelling urinary catheters Exposure to broad spectrum antibiotics selects for multi drug resistant bacteria. 4. Ear Infections A) Otitis externa swimming an important risk factor ("swimmer's ear"). managed with topical antibiotics
B) Malignant otitis externa Virulent form of disease seen in diabetic and elderly patients. Invades the underlying tissues,damage the cranial nerves and bones, can be life threatening. Aggressive, antimicrobial and surgical intervention is required for patients
C) Chronic otitis media.
Eye Infections Infections of the eye occur after initial trauma to the cornea (e.g., abrasion from contact lens, scratch on the eye surface) and then exposure to P. aeruginosa in contaminated water. Corneal ulcers develop and can progress to eyethreatening disease unless prompt treatment is instituted
Bacteremia and Endocarditis. Mortality rate in affected patients is higher with P. aeruginosa bacteremia because of 1. The predilection of the organism for immunocompromised patients 2. The inherent virulence of Pseudomonas.
Bacteremia occurs most often in patients with Neutropenia, Diabetes mellitus, Extensive burns, Hematologic malignancies. Most bacteremias originate from infections of the Lower respiratory tract, Urinary tract, and Skin and soft tissue (particularly burn wound infections).
Ecthyma gangrenosum Characteristic skin lesions in pseudomonas bacteremia. Erythematous vesicles that become hemorrhagic, necrotic, and ulcerated.
Pseudomonas endocarditis Most commonly observed in intravenous-drug abusers.
Acquire the infection from the use of drug paraphernalia contaminated with the waterborne organisms. The tricuspid valve is often involved,
The infection is associated with a chronic course
Other Infections Gastrointestinal tract infections Central nervous system infections Musculoskeletal system The underlying conditions required for most infections are (1) The presence of the organism in a moist reservoir (2) The circumvention or elimination of host defenses
Gastrointestinal infections.
Any part of the git from the oropharynx to the rectum can be affected Primarily in immunocompromised individuals. Presents as Pediatric diarrhea, Typical gastroenteritis, Necrotizing enterocolitis. Important portal of entry in Pseudomonas septicemia
& bacteremia
Central nervous system infections. Meningitis and brain abscesses. Invades the CNS from a contiguous structure such as the inner ear or paranasal sinus, or Inoculated directly by means of head trauma, surgery or invasive diagnostic procedures, or Spreads from a distant site of infection such as the urinary tract.
Laboratory Diagnosis Specimen: skin lesions, pus, urine, blood, spinal fluid, sputum. Culture: Blood agar plate and Differential media (MacConkey agar)
Identification of P. aeruginosa is usually based on
Colonial morphology,
β-hemolysis, Oxidase positivity, Characteristic pigments Sweet odor,
Growth at 42 C.
Treatment The antimicrobial therapy for Pseudomonas infections is frustrating because (1) the bacteria are typically resistant to most antibiotics (2) the infected patient with compromised host defenses cannot augment the antibiotic activity Combined antibiotic therapy is generally required to avoid resistance.
Avoid using inappropriate broad-spectrum antibiotics, which can suppress the normal flora and permit overgrowth of resistant pseudomonads
.
Some Antipseudomonadal antibiotics:
Piperacillin, Piperacillin/tazobactam (Penicillins)
Ceftazidime (Cephalosporins)
Imipenem, meropenem (carbapenems)
Tobramycin, Amikacin, Gentamicin (Aminoglycosides) Ciprofloxacin (Quinolones) Polymyxin B, Colistin
PREVENTION & CONTROL Its impossible to eliminate Pseudomonas from the hospital environment. Effective infection-control practices should concentrate on preventing the Contamination of sterile equipment, such as respiratory therapy and dialysis machines, Cross-contamination of patients by medical personnel. The inappropriate use of broad-spectrum antibiotics should also be avoided
Pseudomonas and related organisms
Other Aerobic nonfermenters Burkholderia cepacia: RT infection in cystic fibrosis patients, UTI, opportunistic infections Burkholderia pseudomallei: opportunistic pulmonary infections Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: opportunistic infections Acinetobacter baumannii: opportunistic infections of respiratory tract infections Moraxella catarrhalis: opportunistic RT infections
CASE REVIEW Diagnosis Pseudomonas aeruginosa Sepsis in a child with neutropenia associated with Ecthyema gangrenosum Pipzo was continued as per AST report OUTCOME Successful completion of 2 wks course of antimicrobial therapy Complete recovery and healing of necrotic lesions