Enterobacter bugandensis

June 12, 2024

Scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have carried out a collaborative study of the behaviour of multi-drug resistant pathogens aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

About Enterobacter Bugandensis

  • Enterobacter bugandensis is a relatively new species within the Enterobacter genus.
  • It was first described in 2013, after being isolated from cases of bloodstream infections in Uganda.

Key Characteristics

  • Morphology: It is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium.
  • Habitat: Like other Enterobacter species, E. bugandensis is typically found in various environments, including soil, water, and the gastrointestinal tracts of animals and humans.
  • Pathogenicity: It can cause a range of infections, primarily in immunocompromised These include bloodstream infections, respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, and wound infections.
  • Resistance: It has shown resistance to multiple antibiotics, which makes treatment challenging.
    • The mechanisms of resistance can include beta-lactamase production, efflux pumps, and mutations that reduce drug uptake.

What is the multidrug-resistant pathogen?

  • It refers to a microorganism that has developed resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents, typically three or more antimicrobial categories.
  • This resistance can be seen in various types of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses and parasites.
  • The most threatening forms of MDR to public health are MDR bacteria that resist multiple antibiotics