Starting in the 1970s, it was acknowledged that the Enterobacter species could cause nosocomial infections. Certain species of this bacterium can be part of the microflora of the mammalian gastrointestinal tract, while other Enterobacter species can be present in human skin surfaces, water, certain foods, soil, and sewage. Enterobacter species are responsible for causing many nosocomial infections, and less commonly community-acquired infections, including urinary tract infections (UTI), respiratory infections, soft tissue infections, osteomyelitis, and endocarditis, among many others.
However, not all species are known to cause human disease. There are currently 22 species of Enterobacter.
Enterobacter is a genus belonging to the family of Enterobacteriaceae that is associated primarily with healthcare-related infections.
