ENTEROBACTER SAKAZAKII - A REVIEW

Enterobacter sakazakii, previously referred to as a 'yellow-pigmented Enterobacter cloacae', was designated as a unique species in 1980. Thi s reclassification was based on differences from E. cloacae in DNA rel atedness, pigment production and biochemical reactions. E. sakazakii h as been implicated in a severe form of neonatal meningitis. Although s tudies have failed to identify an environmental source for the organis m, dried-infant formula has been implicated in both outbreaks and spor adic cases of E. sakazakii meningitis. The high mortality rate (40-80% ), the severity of the infection in infants, plus the scarcity of info rmation on the ecology and pathogenicity of this organism warranted a review of the clinical and microbiological features of this putative f oodborne pathogen.