Elizabethkingia | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Bacteria |
Phylum: | Bacteroidota |
Class: | Flavobacteriia |
Order: | Flavobacteriales |
Family: | Weeksellaceae |
Genus: | Elizabethkingia Kim et al., 2005 |
Species | |
Elizabethkingia is a genus of bacterium described in 2005, named after Elizabeth O. King, the discoverer of the type species.[1] Before this genus being formed in 2005, many of the species of Elizabethkingia were classified in the Chryseobacterium genus.[2] Elizabethkingia has been found in soil, rivers, and reservoirs worldwide.[3]
The genus includes four species:
A 2014 study revealed that Elizabethkingia is an emerging bacterial pathogen for hospital environments, with its incidence in intensive care units rising since 2004.[10] About 5-10 cases of Elizabethkingia are reported per state in the United States every year.[3] A recent study showed that incidence rates for Elizabethkingia increased by 432.1% for 2016–2017 over the incidence for 2009–2015.[11] It possesses genes conferring antibiotic resistance and virulence. Combined with a lack of effective therapeutic regimens, this leads to high mortality rates.[10] Due to the growing incidence rates, lack of treatments, and high mortality rate, intensive prevention of contamination is necessary.[11]
One of the more significant risk factors for Elizabethkingia is whether mechanical ventilation was used with the patient. Because it can form a biofilm in moist environments, water or water-related equipment can also aid in the transfer of Elizabethkinga in hospital environments.[11]
Neonatal meningitis is the most common presentation of Elizabethkingia for children. Recent studies suggest that approximately 31% of children that have Elizabethkingia pass away from the infection, with an average life expectancy of 27 days from onset of symptoms.[12] For the children who recover from Elizabethkingia, about 48% report typical development and full recovery. 30% indicated an onset of hydrocephalus post-recovery. Many other cases included various onsets post-recovery, including motor deficits, cognitive deficits, ongoing seizures, spasticity, and/or hearing loss.[12]
A 2021 retrospective review of 86 Elizabethkingia veterinary diagnostic laboratory results from US dogs and cats found 26 E. meningoseptica, 1 E. miricola, and 59 unspeciated Elizabethkingia isolates from nine US states, demonstrating that Elizabethkingia infections in animals may increase risks to humans.[13]