Bacterium
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Oxidase-positive nonfermenting rod
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High-yield clue
Oxidase-positive nonfermenting Gram-negative rod is the anchor clue.
Overview
A Gram-negative rod used to teach oxidase positivity, nonfermenting metabolism, pigment vocabulary, biofilms, and opportunistic infection concepts.
Classification
- Gram-negative
- Rod
- Nonfermenter
- Aerobe
Lab & identification clues
- Oxidase positive
- Non-lactose fermenter
- Blue-green pigment vocabulary
- Sensory observations are intentionally excluded
Associations
- Biofilm concepts
- Water/environmental reservoir vocabulary
- Burn/wound educational cases
- Resistance concepts
Commonly confused with
- Enteric Gram-negative rods
- Acinetobacter species
Frequently asked questions
What is Pseudomonas aeruginosa?
A Gram-negative rod used to teach oxidase positivity, nonfermenting metabolism, pigment vocabulary, biofilms, and opportunistic infection concepts.
What is the Gram stain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa?
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is Gram negative.
What are the lab clues for Pseudomonas aeruginosa?
Lab clues for Pseudomonas aeruginosa include Oxidase positive, Non-lactose fermenter, Blue-green pigment vocabulary, and Sensory observations are intentionally excluded.
What is Pseudomonas aeruginosa commonly confused with?
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is commonly confused with Enteric Gram-negative rods and Acinetobacter species.
Original student-study summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment, dosing, or specimen-handling guidance.