Current Knowledge and Future Directions in Developing Strategies to Combat Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection.

Abstract

In the face of growing antimicrobial resistance, there is an urgent need for the development of effective strategies to target Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This metabolically versatile bacterium can cause a wide range of severe opportunistic infections in patients with serious underlying medical conditions, such as those with burns, surgical wounds or people with cystic fibrosis. Many of the key adaptations that arise in this organism during infection are centered on core metabolism and virulence factor synthesis. Interfering with these processes may provide a new strategy to combat infection which could be combined with conventional antibiotics. This review will provide an overview of the most recent work that has advanced our understanding of P. aeruginosa infection. Strategies that exploit this recent knowledge to combat infection will be highlighted alongside potential alternative therapeutic options and their limitations.