Spectrum: Local Antimicrobial Stewardship, for Markham Stouffville Hospital

Empiric Therapy for Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Risk Factors

Risk Factors for Pseudomonas

  • Neutropenia

  • Immunodeficiency

  • Indwelling devices

  • Recent Hospital admission

  • ICU stay

  • Previous Pseudomonas infection

  • Recent use of broad spectrum antibiotics

  • Burns

Combination Therapy

Combination therapy generally combines a Beta-lactam/beta lactamase inhibitor and an Aminoglycoside.

Combination therapy for severe infections suspected to have Pseudomonas involvement is only indicated in the following situations:

Critically ill with septic shock AND

Risk factors for Pseudomonas infection present (see above) AND

One of the following:

  • Prior history of multi-drug-resistant Pseudomonas infection

  • Patient care setting where the incidence of resistance to the chosen antibiotic is >15% (See local antibiogram)