Antimicrobial resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

In recent years, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a global public health concern. The growth of resistant bacteria is increasing dramatically, while the number of new antibiotics accessible is decreasing. This is especially true in the case of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an important causative agent of healthcare-associated infections. The ability of P. aeruginosa to survive in different environments and on medical devices has made it more resistant to antibiotics. This causes bacteremia in hospitalized patients, ventilator-associated pneumonia, catheter-associated urinary tract infections and wound infections, particularly in patients with severe burns, bed ulcers and immunocompromised individuals. The rise in the AMR rate in both developed and developing countries may be attributed to a number of factors such as variations in the standard health care, large population, awareness about antibiotic resistance, inadequate training on rationale antibiotic usage and inadequate infection control facilities in many hospitals. The emergence of Extensive Drug Resistance (XDR) and Pan Drug Resistance (PDR) among organisms that cause various infections leads to increased treatment costs, morbidity and mortality, leaving no therapeutic options. This review highlights the different mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, including intrinsic and acquired resistance, which are frequently observed in P. aeruginosa.