Laboratory Diagnosis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections

Laboratory Diagnosis

Laboratory diagnosis of pseudomonal infection is based on isolation of P. aeruginosa from feces or other clinical speci-mens containing mixed microbial flora by culture on selective medium, such as cetrimide agar. Since P. aeruginosa is frequently present as a contaminant in the clinical specimen, hence not a single isolation but repeated isolations are essential to confirm P. aeruginosa as the causative agent of condition.

◗ Identification of bacteria

Nonlactose-fermenting and beta-hemolytic green pigmented colonies (Color Photo 39), which are rapid oxidase positive, are identified by biochemical properties, production of pyocins, and susceptibility to phage typing, serotyping, and molecular typing.