Extensively drug‑resistant Pseudomonas eye infections linked to preservative‑free artificial tears
Extensively drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis outbreak strain: virulence mechanisms and mitigation
This work looks at how a highly drug‑resistant Pseudomonas bacterium causes severe eye infections and aims to find better ways to prevent and treat these infections for people with bacterial keratitis or who used the implicated artificial tears.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11171691 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers will use bacterial genome sequencing and lab antibiotic tests to figure out what makes this outbreak strain so resistant and harmful. They will study how the bacteria cause severe eye damage using animal (rabbit) infection models and samples from real cases. The team will test potential mitigation strategies and treatments in the lab and in preclinical models to identify approaches that could limit infection or improve outcomes. Findings will be used to guide future clinical options and public health steps to reduce infections from contaminated eye products.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people who have or recently had bacterial keratitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa or who used the implicated preservative‑free artificial tear products.
Not a fit: People with unrelated eye conditions or infections caused by other organisms are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new ways to stop the outbreak strain, reduce vision loss, and improve treatments for drug‑resistant eye infections.
How similar studies have performed: Related laboratory and animal studies have previously helped identify treatments for bacterial keratitis, but this particular extensively drug‑resistant outbreak strain is novel and needs targeted work.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shanks, Robert M — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Shanks, Robert M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.