Pseudomonas, Burkholderia

P. aeruginosa

Disease association

• Primary cause of pneumonia in Cystic Fibrosis patients. 
• Swimmer’s ears – contact lens infection 
• jacuzzi hot tub syndrome 
• erythema gangrenosum 

Virulence Factor

• Exotoxin A – most important 
• Hemolysi ns 
• Pili 
• Alginate – mucoid 
• Pyocyanin – specific 
• Biofilm production

Other Characteristic

• Appearance on BAP
  
  • Spreading and flat; serrated edges, silver metallic sheen, bluish green, red or brown pigmentation
  • Beta hemolytic
• MAC 
  
  • colorless w/ green
• Odor 
  
  • Rubber-like
  • Grape-like
  • Corn-tortilla like
• Motility
  
  • Positive

B. mallei

Disease association

• Glander’sdisease

Other Characteristic

• No Motility

B. pseudomallei

Disease association

• Melioidosis 
• Vietnamese time bomb

Virulence Factor

• Capable of survival in human macrophages

Other Characteristic

• BAP
  
  • Smooth; mucoid to dry and wrinkled
• Odor
  
  • Earthy odor
• Motility
  
  • Negative

B. cepacia

Disease association

• Infections in patients w/ CF

Virulence Factor

• Can survive hospitals due to intrinsic resistance to antibiotics

Other Characteristic

• BAP
  
  • Smooth and raised
• MAC 
  
  • pink colonies (lactose oxidizer)
• Odor
  
  • Dirt like/earthy odor
• Motility
  • Positive