In The News

The NICU Situation Has Been Resolved

What is Pseudomonas?

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterium found throughout the community. It is common to find this bacterium in homes and hospitals. It lives and grows in water, and does not spread through the air.

Pseudomonas can be present in healthy people, but rarely makes them sick. Generally, people who are at most risk of getting pseudomonas infections and becoming seriously ill are those who have a weak immune system. This includes cancer patients undergoing treatment, the very sick, the very young, the very old, and people with burns.

A person can acquire a pseudomonas infection in various ways. It is most commonly transmitted when contaminated solutions, hands or equipment enter the body through wounds, or through the nose, ears, mouth, eyes or rectum.

Most people who are infected with pseudomonas are not at risk for serious illness or death. Pseudomonas is most serious when the infection gets into the bloodstream. A pseudomonas infection on the skin or in the rectum can usually be easily treated with antibiotics.

The diagnosis of a pseudomonas infection is obtained through lab testing of blood and tissue samples.

Please consult your doctor for specific medical questions about pseudomonas.

Healthy people with normal immune systems are generally not affected by it. But premature infants with weak immune systems and critical health conditions are vulnerable.

What is a Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)?

A Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) provides care to premature and critically ill infants. Full-term, healthy infants do not receive care in an NICU after birth, unless they are under observation for potential risk factors.

For nearly 30 years our NICU has provided care to some of the sickest premature infants in the city, and currently serves as a referral center for other hospitals in our region.

Posted 1/26/07