Bacterial infections are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in burn-injured patients. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are among the most common pathogens responsible for infections in thermally injured patients. These and other pathogens have developed a variety of virulence factors to colonize and infect hosts.
Methods:
A comprehensive literature review was conducted to best summarize the current knowledge of how virulence factors contribute to bacterial pathogenicity.
Results:
The review highlights the unique mechanisms bacteria utilize to evade host defense systems and further complicate the treatment of burn-injured patients.
Conclusion:
Further research on virulence factors and their contribution to bacterial pathogenicity is warranted and could potentially lead to development of neutralizing pharmacotherapy that would complement antimicrobial treatment.
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