Abstract
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia has emerged as an important opportunistic pathogen in the debilitated host. S maltophilia is not an inherently virulent pathogen, but its ability to colonise respiratory-tract epithelial cells and surfaces of medical devices makes it a ready coloniser of hospitalised patients. S maltophilia can cause blood-stream infections and pneumonia with considerable morbidity in immunosuppressed patients. Management of infection is hampered by high-level intrinsic resistance to many antibiotic classes and the increasing occurrence of acquired resistance to the first-line drug co-trimoxazole. Prevention of acquisition and infection depends upon the application of modern infection-control practices, with emphasis on the control of antibiotic use and environmental reservoirs.
MeSH terms
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Communicable Diseases, Emerging / diagnosis
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Communicable Diseases, Emerging / drug therapy
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Communicable Diseases, Emerging / microbiology*
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Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial
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Environmental Exposure
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Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / diagnosis
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Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
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Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / microbiology*
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Humans
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Microbial Sensitivity Tests
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Opportunistic Infections / diagnosis
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Opportunistic Infections / drug therapy
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Opportunistic Infections / microbiology*
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Stenotrophomonas maltophilia* / classification
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Stenotrophomonas maltophilia* / drug effects
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Stenotrophomonas maltophilia* / pathogenicity
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Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / therapeutic use
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Water Microbiology
Substances
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Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination