Joanna S Brooke
DePaul University, USA
Title: Insights into Drug-Resistant Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, a Global Opportunistic Bacterial Pathogen.
Biography
Biography: Joanna S Brooke
Abstract
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a drug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial opportunistic pathogen found in moist environments in and outside the clinical setting. The World Health Organization has named S. maltophilia as a leading global drug-resistant pathogen in hospitals. Infections of S. maltophilia are of significant concern and associated with high mortality rates in the immunocompromised patient population. Various infections in humans are associated with S. maltophilia, most commonly those of the respiratory tract, and this bacterium forms biofilms on medical devices and living tissues. S. maltophilia can be a co-colonizer in polymicrobial biofilms found in cystic fibrosis patients. Our studies and others have shown that the biofilm is influenced by cell ultrastructure and culture growth conditions. Genome sequencing and analysis have revealed considerable genetic diversity among S. maltophilia strains and multiple molecular mechanisms used to thwart antimicrobial treatment. The rise in antibiotic resistance of S. maltophilia worldwide emphasizes the need to develop new strategies and therapies to combat this emerging opportunistic pathogen. Studying the colonization, biofilm formation, and virulence of S. maltophilia may help to identify suitable targets for pharmaceutical therapy. We will discuss the clinical challenges presented by this pathogen and new approaches being used to identify and treat S. maltophilia infections. rnrn
