SESSION I Nosocomial Infections Due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Review of Recent Trends

The role of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in nosocomial infections occurring since 1975 is reviewed. Data from the National Nosocomial Infections Study conducted by the Cen-ters for Disease Control, from individual medical centers, and from the literature were used to compare the relative frequency of occurrence of nosocomial infection caused by P. aeruginosa with that of infection caused by other gram-negative bacilli. The relative frequency of P. aeruginosa as a nosocomial pathogen has increased, although wide variations are seen among individual medical centers. P. aeruginosa continues to be a major pathogen among patients with immunosuppression, cystic fibrosis, malig-nancy, and trauma. While Staphylococcus aureus has become the predominant patho-gen in some large burn centers, P. aeruginosa is the most important gram-negative pathogen. Periodic review of the epidemiology of P. aeruginosa infection is warranted in view of the changing incidence of infection caused by this organism. Among the common gram-negative bacilli that cause nosocomial infection, Pseudomonas aeru-ginosa is unique in its ability to infect a wide vari