HWN Suggests

The Changing Face of the Family Enterobacteriaceae

The family Enterobacteriaceae has undergone significant morphogenetic changes in its more than 85-year history…

The development and introduction of new and novel molecular methods coupled with innovative laboratory techniques have led to many advances. We now know that the global range of enterobacteria is much more expansive than previously recognized, as they play important roles in the environment in vegetative processes and through widespread environmental distribution through insect vectors. In humans, many new species have been described, some associated with specific disease processes. Some established species are now observed in new infectious disease settings and syndromes.

read full article

Featured

 Enterobacteriaceae

Gram negative bacilli or coccobacilli; nonsporeforming; facultative anaerobes. Often referred to as ENTERICS. Normal flora of the GI tract of animals and humans (except for Plesiomonas, Salmonella, Shigella, and Yersinia).

Articles of Interest

Deadly Bacterial Infections on the Rise

The culprit is a family of germs known as enterobacteriaceae that are a normal part of the digestive system but can cause infection when they get into the bladder, blood or other areas where they don't belong. In a report that for the first time quantifies the scope of the problem, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the germs are growing increasingly drug-resistant. The agency said aggressive detection and preventive measures can be effective in halting outbreaks.

Enterobacter Infections

Enterobacter species are responsible for causing many nosocomial infections, and less commonly community-acquired infections, including urinary tract infections (UTI), respiratory infections, soft tissue infections, osteomyelitis, and endocarditis, among many others.

Enterobacteriaceae Family

The Enterobacteriaceae family contains a large number of genera that are biochemically and genetically related to one another. Taxonomically, the Enterobacteriaceae family currently has 53 genera and over 170 named species, of these 26 genera are known to be associated with infections in humans. Many of the familiar bacteria are found in this family e.g. Escherichia coli, Shigella, Salmonella, Enterobacter, Proteus, Yersinia, etc.

Rethinking gut microbiome residency and the Enterobacteriaceae in healthy human adults

Enterobacteriaceae is the most taxonomically diverse bacterial family recognized by the International Committee on Systematic Bacteriology. Most research on Enterobacteriaceae in humans has narrowly focused on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, virulence, and/or antibiotic resistance of pathogenic strains.

The Enterobacteriaceae and Their Significance to the Food Industry

Some members of the Enterobacteriaceae have had a large impact on infectious diseases, clinical microbiology and public health. They are involved in diarrhoeal diseases and recognised as one of the major bacterial food-borne pathogens. New scientific and ecological advances have revealed an expansion of the area of Enterobacteriaceae, including emerging pathogenic strains.

The “Nightmare Bacteria”: An Explainer

Enterobacteriaceae refers to a large taxonomic group of bacterial species. It includes some familiar bugs, like E. coli, as well as many you’ve never heard of. Only some of them live in the human body, and only some of those strains have the potential to make us sick. (You probably have a few billion E. coli in your gut right now. But if you get one of the nasty E. coli strains, you may get organ failure or die.)

What are Enterobacteriaceae?

Enterobacteriaceae, like all bacteria, can develop resistance to antibiotics, including the carbapenem group of antibiotics, which are sometimes referred to as the last line of antibiotic treatment against resistant organisms.

Resources

Basicmedical Key

Microbiologically, all members of the Enterobacteriaceae are facultative anaerobes that, with few exceptions, ferment glucose, reduce nitrate to nitrite, and are oxidase negative