Enterobacter aerogenes

Enterobacter aerogenes is a Gram-negative, oxidase negative, catalase positive, citrate positive, indole negative, rod-shaped bacterium.^[1]

E. aerogenes is a nosocomial and pathogenic bacterium that causes opportunistic infections including most types of infections. The majority are sensitive to most antibiotics designed for this bacteria class, but this is complicated by their inducible resistance mechanisms, particularly lactamase which means that they quickly become resistant to standard antibiotics during treatment, requiring change in antibiotic to avoid worsening of the sepsis.

Some of the infections caused by E. aerogenes result from specific antibiotic treatments, venous catheter insertions, and/or surgical procedures. E. aerogenes is generally found in the human gastrointestinal tract and does not generally cause disease in healthy individuals. It has been found to live in various wastes, hygienic chemicals, and soil. The bacterium also has some commercial significance – the hydrogen gas produced during fermentation has been experimented with using molasses as the substrate.

It may spoil maple sap and syrup.^[2]

References

External links

• Enterobacter Infections at eMedicine
• "Enterobacter aerogenes". NCBI Taxonomy Browser. 548. 
• Type strain of Enterobacter aerogenes at BacDive - the Bacterial Diversity Metadatabase