DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics14020178 ISSN: 2079-6382
Difficult-to-Treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections in Critically Ill Patients: A Comprehensive Review and Treatment Proposal
Pablo Vidal-Cortés, Sandra Campos-Fernández, Elena Cuenca-Fito, Lorena del Río-Carbajo, Paula Fernández-Ugidos, Víctor J. López-Ciudad, Jorge Nieto-del Olmo, Ana Rodríguez-Vázquez, Ana I. Tizón-VarelaThe management of infections caused by difficult-to-treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa in critically ill patients poses a significant challenge. Optimal antibiotic therapy is crucial for patient prognosis, yet the numerous resistance mechanisms of P. aeruginosa, which may even combine, complicate the selection of an appropriate antibiotic. In this review, we examine the epidemiology, resistance mechanisms, risk factors, and available and future therapeutic options, as well as strategies for treatment optimization. Finally, we propose a treatment algorithm to facilitate decision making based on the resistance patterns specific to each Intensive Care Unit.