Logo Image
|Videos|June 13, 2017

Why is Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa a Priority Pathogen?

Jason Pogue, PharmD, BCPS-ID, Clinical Pharmacist, Infectious Diseases, Sinai-Grace Hospital, explains why Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the World Health Organization’s critical priority pathogens for new research and development priorities.

Jason Pogue, PharmD, BCPS-ID, Clinical Pharmacist, Infectious Diseases, Sinai-Grace Hospital, explains why Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the World Health Organization’s critical priority pathogens for new research and development priorities.

Interview Transcript (slightly modified for readability)

“I think the reason that multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas [aeruginosa] is one of [the World Health Organization’s priority pathogens], is just because of how many patients it impacts. You pick your favorite anti-Pseudomonal beta-lactam antibiotic and you’re looking at about 15-20% resistance, and so, from a sheer numbers standpoint, it impacts a very large number of our patients. The other feature is that it tends to cause very invasive infections, [such as] pneumonias.”

DISCLOSURES: Jason Pogue is a Consultant for Merck, Allergan, Med Co, Shionogi, Zavante, Achaogen. This study was supported by a grant from Merck.

Related to this article

View more
How The Food Safety Surveillance Infrastructure Works in the US
How The Food Safety Surveillance Infrastructure Works in the US
In the first episode of our new series looking at the food safety network, Lynette Johnston, PhD, offers insights into how the federal government surveillance infrastructure operates and how epidemiologists serve as food detectives in determining bacterial pathogens and potential foodborne outbreaks.
Read more
This Week's Top 5 Infectious Disease News Stories: September 12-September 18, 2026
This Week's Top 5 Infectious Disease News Stories: September 12-September 18, 2026
In this week's top infectious disease stories, a Pennsylvania teen became the state's fourth measles death in weeks, the CDC reported a 17% summer surge in rabies exposure calls, new research revisited whether cefepime raises mortality risk, a multihospital review examined ceftriaxone's safety after state alerts, and examining Legionella pneumonia diagnostics.
Read more
New Diagnositics for Legionella Pneumonia May Streamline Care Continuum
New Diagnositics for Legionella Pneumonia May Streamline Care Continuum
Reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been on the rise for the past decade, and identifying Legionella bacteria requires specialized testing in the microbiology lab. Here is a clinical overview of Legionella bacteria, including required testing, treatment, and reporting to public health officials.
Read more
Ceftriaxone Safety: Separating Signal From Risk
Ceftriaxone Safety: Separating Signal From Risk
A retrospective multihospital study found that severe adverse events occurred at similarly low rates with ceftriaxone and other IV cephalosporins suggesting there is no evidence to support avoiding ceftriaxone despite recent health department safety alerts.
Read more