The bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa (blue) is harmful to people and often found in hospitals. Credit: Juergen Berger/SPL A strain of bacterium that often causes infections in hospital can break ...

Pictured: an artist's impression of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, main, and plastic medical equipment, inset. ivan68 / quantic69/iStock / Getty Images Plus ...

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a master of survival. It thrives in soil and water—and in the human body, especially when the immune system is compromised.