Cronobacter

• Cronobacter sakazakii
• Cronobacter muytjensii
• Cronobacter Dublinensis
• Cronobacter turicensis

Cronobacter is a 2008 newly described genus of bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae. The type species was in 1980 by Farmer et al. described as Enterobacter sakazakii and known by that name. Because of taxonomic progress renaming in a new genus Cronobacter has been proposed with various kinds in 2007 and published the new genus in 2008.

Properties

Cronobacter is a gram-negative, occurring worldwide and motile rod. The typical production of a yellow pigment was used for differentiation. Since these do not occur in all strains, and also depends on the temperature and the light and the medium, this method is not reliable. Some strains have a high resistance to heat, drought and osmotic stress. Moreover, by the formation of a biofilm on surfaces in particular the adhesion of rubber, silicone and polycarbonate, as well as, less pronounced, it is possible to glass or steel.

Occurrence

Due to its properties Cronobacter can occur practically anywhere. The bacterium has been demonstrated in both the surfaces as well as in drinking water, in soil, dust, and in plants and animals. Also contamination were found on kitchenware and flushed steins. In food production Cronobacter was detected both in the dairy industry as well as in the manufacture of chocolate, breakfast cereals, spices, potato and pasta products and in infant formula. Because of the sensitive target group and legal requirements, powdered infant formulas are particularly monitored for the presence of Cronobacter.

Health significance

Cronobacter can cause infections. In immunocompromised or elderly people especially bacteremia after surgery, urinary tract and wound infections, and post-traumatic bone and joint infections were detected. Particularly vulnerable are premature babies and infants in the first eight weeks of life, which can cause an infection to meningitis, bacteremia and necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC). The incidence of neonatal Cronobacter infections is, however, very rare: Only about 100 cases have been reported so far worldwide. In the literature, especially infections in immunocompromised preterm infants through hygiene and errors in the preparation and storage of infant formula have been described in hospitals.