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E - Enterobacter Species: Eskap

Microbiologia

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Oscar Moisés López Sanabio
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29 views

E - Enterobacter Species: Eskap

Microbiologia

Uploaded by

Oscar Moisés López Sanabio
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ESKAPE - Enterobacter species

What type of organism is it?


Enterobacter species belong to the large Enterobacteriaceae
family of bacteria, which encompasses Salmonella, Escherichia
coli, Yersinia pestis, Klebsiella and Shigella. They are rod-shaped,
and many use flagella to move about. Enterobacter spp. are
found as part of the normal gut flora, but can also be
pathogenic.

What is its resistance profile?


Extended-spectrum β-lactamase is an enzyme that allows bacteria to become resistant to a
wide variety of penicillins and cephalosporins. Bacteria that contain this enzyme are known as
ESBLs or ESBL-producing bacteria. ESBL-producing Enterobacter spp. are resistant to powerful
antibiotics including extended spectrum cephalosporins.

How is it spread?
Enterobacter spp. can be spread via the hands of healthcare workers or by equipment that
gets contaminated and is not properly cleaned.

How common is it?


European data from 2012 show that Enterobacter spp. were responsible for 6.8% of intensive
care unit (ICU)-acquired pneumonia and 4.2% of ICU-acquired urinary tract infections. In the US,
data from 2011 show that nearly 26,000 (or 19%) healthcare-associated Enterobacteriaceae
infections were caused by ESBL-producing Enterobacter spp.

What infection control precautions should be used?


Standard infection control precautions, including effective hand hygiene, should be used for all
patients. Ensuring the use of personal protective equipment and good hand hygiene during
patient care and following exposure to the patient’s immediate environment is very important.
Additional contact precautions may be warranted in the case of confirmed Enterobacter spp.
infection. The choice depends on the specific circumstances – for example, the risk category
and whether an outbreak is occurring – and will be determined by local policy.

Superbug factsheet. Part of the HCAI Hot Topic


© Healthcare A2Z 2015 www.healthcarea2z.org Page |1
ESKAPE - Enterobacter species

What infections does it cause? And who is at risk?


Enterobacter spp. most commonly infect the urinary and respiratory tracts, but are known to
cause bacteraemias, skin and soft tissue infections and are becoming increasingly responsible
for serious healthcare-associated infections. Risk factors for Enterobacter spp. infections include
prolonged hospitalisation, treatment with antibiotics, mechanical ventilation, use of medical
devices such as intravenous catheters, and serious underlying conditions such as burns and
immunosuppression. Specific risk factors for infection with healthcare-associated multidrug-
resistant strains of Enterobacter spp. include the recent use of broad-spectrum cephalosporins
or aminoglycosides and ICU care.

How are infections with Enterobacter spp. treated?


Besides colistin and tigecycline, few antimicrobials are effective against these resistant
organisms. The remaining treatment option is an antibiotic from the carbapenem family.

Sources

 Enterobacter infections.
Accessed at: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/216845-overview#a4. Accessed on: 31st Aug
2015.
 Pendleton, J et al. Clinical relevance of the ESKAPE pathogens. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther.
2013;11(3):297-308.
 European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Annual Epidemiological Report 2014.
Accessed at: http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/Publications/antimicrobial-resistance-annual-
epidemiological-report.pdf Accessed on: 31st Aug 2015.
 CDC Drug Resistance Threat Report.
Accessed at: http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/threat-report-2013/pdf/ar-threats-2013-
508.pdf#page=69 Accessed on: 31st Aug 2015.

Superbug factsheet. Part of the HCAI Hot Topic


© Healthcare A2Z 2015 www.healthcarea2z.org Page |2

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