Research from the University of South Alabama has identified Pseudomonas aeruginosa as an emerging cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs), appearing nearly twice as common regionally as national estimates suggest. The findings were published in mSphere.
Researchers analysed 55 bacterial samples from patients with UTIs, examining genetic characteristics, disease mechanisms, and antibiotic resistance patterns. They found P. aeruginosa accounted for approximately 4% of local UTI cases, compared with roughly 2% nationally. The team also discovered numerous previously unidentified genetic strains.
Lead author Dr Allyson Shea, assistant professor of microbiology and immunology at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine, noted that whilst most UTIs are caused by Escherichia coli, P. aeruginosa has received comparatively little research attention in urinary tract settings. Most existing knowledge about this pathogen comes from lung and wound infection studies, though the urinary tract presents a very different environment.
The study identified links between certain bacterial strains and specific patient populations. One strain appeared more frequently in patients with urinary catheters, whilst another was associated with diabetes. Concerning patterns of antibiotic resistance also emerged: nearly one-third of isolates were resistant to levofloxacin, a commonly prescribed antibiotic, and several strains showed resistance to multiple drugs.
Researchers do not yet know why P. aeruginosa appears more common along the Gulf Coast, though climate, patient population characteristics, healthcare-associated exposures, and underlying health conditions may all contribute.
Dr Shea emphasised that whilst the findings do not immediately change patient care, they establish an important foundation for future research by highlighting the genomic diversity of P. aeruginosa strains causing UTIs, an essential first step toward understanding how these infections develop and persist.
Source: News Medical / University of South Alabama (mSphere, 2026)
