<P> Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common Gram - negative, rod - shaped bacterium that can cause disease in plants and animals, including humans . A species of considerable medical importance, P. aeruginosa is a multidrug resistant pathogen recognized for its ubiquity, its intrinsically advanced antibiotic resistance mechanisms, and its association with serious illnesses--hospital - acquired infections such as ventilator - associated pneumonia and various sepsis syndromes . </P> <P> The organism is considered opportunistic insofar as serious infection often occurs during existing diseases or conditions--most notably cystic fibrosis and traumatic burns . It is also found generally in the immunocompromised but can infect the immunocompetent as in hot tub folliculitis . Treatment of P. aeruginosa infections can be difficult due to its natural resistance to antibiotics . When more advanced antibiotic drug regimens are needed adverse effects may result . </P> <P> It is citrate, catalase, and oxidase positive . It is found in soil, water, skin flora, and most man - made environments throughout the world . It thrives not only in normal atmospheres, but also in low - oxygen atmospheres, thus has colonized many natural and artificial environments . It uses a wide range of organic material for food; in animals, its versatility enables the organism to infect damaged tissues or those with reduced immunity . The symptoms of such infections are generalized inflammation and sepsis . If such colonizations occur in critical body organs, such as the lungs, the urinary tract, and kidneys, the results can be fatal . Because it thrives on moist surfaces, this bacterium is also found on and in medical equipment, including catheters, causing cross-infections in hospitals and clinics . It is also able to decompose hydrocarbons and has been used to break down tarballs and oil from oil spills . P. aeruginosa is not extremely virulent in comparison with other major pathogenic bacterial species--for example Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes--though P. aeruginosa is capable of extensive colonization, and can aggregate into enduring biofilms . </P> <P> The word Pseudomonas means "false unit", from the Greek pseudēs (Greek: ψευδής, false) and (Latin: monas, from Greek: μονάς, a single unit). The stem word mon was used early in the history of microbiology to refer to germs, e.g., kingdom Monera . </P>

Where is pseudomonas aeruginosa found in the human body