Recent Findings Regarding Pathogenesis and Prevention of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

In this review we have summarized the known virulent factors of P. aeruginosa in the development of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP). This gram negative rod bacterium colonizes through several pathogenic mechanisms that can be summarized as follows: 1) cell surface virulence factors; 2) secreted virulence factors; 3) type secretion system; 4) quorum sensing. Another additional aspect that is covered is the capacity of P. aeruginosa of organized growth as a biofilm, which is a particular growth pattern in which bacteria gain high levels of antimicrobial resistance. The development of new antimicrobial strategies may use this understanding of the bacterium behavior for possible prevention, or eradication of the infective agent, in case of severe infections. © 2013 Bentham Science Publishers.