Genomic virulence markers are associated with severe outcomes in patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa bloodstream infection

The study aimed to investigate how genomic virulence markers in Pseudomonas aeruginosa predict patient outcomes in bloodstream infections, a severe healthcare-associated infection characterized by high mortality and rising antimicrobial resistance. Bacterial strains were consecutively collected from multiple centers across Europe and Australia, with whole-genome sequencing performed using the Illumina HiSeq platform. Our goal was to identify virulence markers that could enhance mortality risk stratification and guide personalized treatments, ultimately supporting more effective management strategies for patients with severe infections.