Biochemical identification of new species and biogroups of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from clinical specimens

Abstract

In 1972 there were only 11 genera and 26 species in the family Enterobacteriaceae. Today there are 22 genera, 69 species, and 29 biogroups or Enteric Groups. This paper is a review of all of the new organisms. It has a series of differential charts to assist in identification and a large chart with the reactions of 98 different organisms for 47 tests often used in identification. A simplified version of this chart gives the most common species and tests most often used for identification. The sources of the new organisms are listed, and their role in human disease is discussed. Fourteen new groups ofEnterobacteriaceae are described for the first time. These new groups are biochemically distinct from previously described species, biogroups, and Enteric Groups of Enterobacteriaceae. The new groups are Citrobacter amalonaticus biogroup 1, Klebsiella group 47 (indole positive, ornithine positive),

Natural antibiotic susceptibility of Enterobacter amnigenus, Enterobacter cancerogenus, Enterobacter gergoviae and Enterobacter sakazakii strains

“…These bacteria have been isolated from water and from several clinical specimens, e.g. respiratory tract, wound, blood and feces [11], and were shown to cause sepsis and other infections in man [12][13][14]. Strains of E. cancerogenus have been isolated predominantly from human blood and spinal fluid [15] and were found to be etiological agents of wound and urinary tract infections, sepsis and osteomyelitis [16][17][18][19][20][21].…”

Characterization of chitinase‐producing Serratia and Bacillus strains isolated from insects

“…A carbohydrate fermentation test was performed as previously described (Wauters et al 1998). Other phenotypic tests include Methyl red, Voges proskauer and Gelatin hydrolysis test (Farmer et al 1985).…”

Composition and properties of the family Enterobaeteriaceae

“…Deoxyribonucleic acid studies have also confirmed the heterogeneity of some genera, an example is the genus Proteus (now divided into Proteus, Providencia and Morganella), and aided in the circumscription of previously undefined groups among strains referred to in the past as 'atypical'. This has led to the creation of a large number of new taxa (see Brenner 1984;Farmer et al 1985a).…”

“…As yet, no strains of B. agrestis have been isolated from human sources (Ferragut et al 1981;Farmer et al 1985a). Farmer et al (1985a suggest that two other groups of similar strains, also studied by Ferragut et al (1981), probably represent two additional species in the genus Buttiauxella.…”

“…To date, all the strains of this genus have been isolated from human clinical material. Although very little is yet known about their ecology, epidemiology or role in human illness there is information that strongly suggests that Cedecea species are of clinical significance (Farmer et al 1985a). The genus, formally described by Grimont et al (198 I), now includes three named species, Cedecea dauisae, C. lapagei and C. neteri (the last formerly referred to as Cedecea species 4, see Farmer 1984), and two groups, of species status, labelled Cedecea sp.…”