Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae on the perinea of males with spinal cord injuries.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization is found in a high percentage of males with spinal cord injury. The perineum is the body site most frequently colonized, and specific serotypes may persist for weeks. We examined patients for the presence of P. aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae on the perineum and adjacent body sites by using contact plates. P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, or both were cultured from perineal swabs of 22 male patients. Wells (2.5 cm2) containing agar medium selective for these organisms were used to examine samples from 32 sites adjacent to the perineum in each patient. P. aeruginosa was most frequently cultured from samples taken from the perineum, the scrotum, and the penile shaft. K. pneumoniae isolation was more variable; this organism was most commonly found on the perineum and scrotum. Rectal swabs, obtained through a proctoscope, were positive for P. aeruginosa in four of eight patients with this organism on the perineum and positive for K. pneumoniae in eight of nine patients with this organism on the perineum. These studies more clearly define the extent of the colonization of the perineum and adjacent body sites which provides potential reservoirs of P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae.