Cyanide Production by Pseudomonas Aeruginosa

Abstract

The production of HCN by P. aeruginosa in vitro and in vivo has been known for many years. The formation of HCN by this micro-organism has been correlated with the elaboration of pyocyanine pigment. Cyanide concentrations varied in the eschar and viscera of patients dying of massive Pseudomonas burn wound infections as well as in experimentally infected burned rats. Despite the fact that no consistent quantitative correlation between the severity of the infection and the cyanide levels of the inoculated broth were found, it is suggested that the cyanide producing capabilities of this organism may be intimately related to the exceedingly high mortality attending P. septicemia in burn patients.