title: Epidemiologic perspectives on Enterobacter for the infection control professional.
abstract: Enterobacter species have emerged as important nosocomial pathogens. Common reservoirs for these organisms include wounds and the gastrointestinal, urinary, and respiratory tracts. Enterobacter bacteremia typically occurs in patients with long-standing underlying illnesses who received antimicrobial agents before their bacteremia. The wide use of broad-spectrum antibiotics has contributed to the increased prominence of Enterobacter infections. Enterobacter species have a propensity to emerge resistant to the antibiotic therapy administered. Plasmid analysis, restriction endonuclease analysis of total cellular DNA, pulsed-field electrophoresis, and ribotyping can be valuable in investigating the spread of antibiotic-resistant strains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201-2021.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Shlaes
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004754:Enterobacter / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000639:trends*; D016357:Infection Control Practitioners; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents