Differential proteinase expression by Pseudomonas aeruginosa derived from chronic leg ulcers.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonizes 20-30% of all venous leg ulcers. Hypothetically, P. aeraginosa could release proteases and cytotoxic substances in the environment of chronic ulcers, thus negatively affecting the wound-healing activity in this patient group. Here we show that P. aeruginosa isolates from leg ulcers exhibit a highly variable expression of the proteinases elastase and alkaline proteinase. We propose that bacterial phenotype should be taken into account in future studies on the clinical outcome of leg ulcers colonized by P. aeruginosa.