A Strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Resistant to a Quaternary Ammonium Compound1

Light and electron microscopy studies were made of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains which were sensitive and resistant to a quaternary ammonium compound (QAC). The colonies of the sensitive cells on Tryptone Glucose Yeast Extract Agar were granular and homogeneous in consistency. In contrast, the colonies of the resistant strain on the same medium were granular, non-homogenous, and contained numerous dense areas. Morphological observations revealed the resistant cells to be 30% smaller than sensitive cells and non-motile due to loss of polar flagella, a characteristic which was not restored when the organisms were cultured in the absence of QAC for more than 7 months. Electron-dense inclusion bodies were present in resistant cells; they ranged in size from about 0.05 to 0.2 μm in diameter. These bodies, which were not identified, were released intact from lysing cells; as many as 20 per cell were visible.