Action of heavy metals on Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from infected wounds

Objective: A study was undertaken to examine the effects of the heavy metals arsenic, silver, nickel cobalt cadmium lead and mercury on Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from infected wounds. Methods: Fifty strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were tested against the heavy metals like arsenic, silver, nickel cobalt cadmium lead and mercury by an agar dilution method. Of the metals used Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains were found to be exhibiting high susceptibility to the heavy metal ions. Results and Conclusion: The overall susceptibility patterns of the strains were similar to all 6 heavy metal ions arsenic, nickel cobalt cadmium lead and mercury. Two strains were found to be showing resistance against the silver ions which were isolated from the burns wound infection.