Enterobacter cloacae is a gram-negative rod associated with urinary tract infections and wound infections.
Urinary tract infections: Enterobacter cloacae is an opportunistic rod increasingly identified in complicated and catheter-associated UTIs. It has intrinsic resistance to multiple antibiotics and is known for harboring extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and carbapenemases. Early and accurate detection via PCR is vital for appropriate treatment and infection control in healthcare settings (Davin-Regli & Pagès 2015, Davin-Regli et al. 2019).
Wound infections: Enterobacter cloacae is a common hospital-associated bacterium that can cause wound and surgical site infections. It is part of the ESKAPE group of pathogens known for antibiotic resistance and often produces inducible AmpC enzymes, which can make it resistant to cephalosporins. E. cloacae is frequently isolated from burn wounds and other healthcare-related wound infections. Inclusion of Enterobacter in a wound PCR panel is justified because prompt identification can influence antibiotic choice (Azzopardi et al. 2014).
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Davin-Regli A, Lavigne JP, Pagès JM. Enterobacter spp.: Update on Taxonomy, Clinical Aspects, and Emerging Antimicrobial Resistance. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2019 Jul 17;32(4):e00002-19. doi: 10.1128/CMR.00002-19. PMID: 31315895; PMCID: PMC6750132.
Azzopardi, E. A., Azzopardi, E., Camilleri, L., Villapalos, J., Boyce, D. E., Dziewulski, P., Dickson, W. A., & Whitaker, I. S. (2014). Gram negative wound infection in hospitalised adult burn patients–systematic review and metanalysis-. PloS one, 9(4), e95042.
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