Persistent infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in ventilator-associated pneumonia.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the leading causes of gram-negative ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) associated with a mortality rate of 34 to 68%. Recent evidence suggests that P. aeruginosa in patients with VAP may persist in the alveolar space despite adequate antimicrobial therapy. We hypothesized that failure to eradicate P. aeruginosa from the lung is linked to type III secretory system (TTSS) isolates.

Objectives

To determine the mechanism by which infection with P. aeruginosa in patients with VAP may evade the host immune response.

Methods

Thirty-four patients with P. aeruginosa VAP underwent noninvasive bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) at the onset of VAP and on Day 8 after initiation of antibiotic therapy. Isolated pathogens were analyzed for sec

SUBMITTER: El Solh AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2542430 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature