Expanding spectrum of opportunistic Cedecea infections: Current clinical status and multidrug resistance

Members of the bacterial genus Cedecea cause acute infections worldwide in compromised hosts with serious underlying medical conditions. While global reports of Cedecea infections remain sporadic in the medical literature, cases of multidrug-resistant clinical isolates have been documented each year over the past decade, warranting a comprehensive update on this emerging opportunistic pathogen. Here, we review the clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, natural distribution, epidemiology, and antimicrobial resistance of Cedecea species. Acute infection commonly manifests as bacteremia and pneumonia; however, the spectrum of infectious pathologies associated with Cedecea has expanded to include oral and cutaneous ulcers, orbital cellulitis, and peritonitis. The frequency of resistance among reported clinical isolates was highest to ampicillin, cephalothin, cefoxitin, cefazolin, and ceftazidime. Cedecea isolates harboring metallo-β-lactamases exhibited resistance to carbapenems and fourth-generation cephalosporins. Further research is needed to understand the pathogenicity and multidrug resistance of Cedecea species. Appropriate therapeutic management of Cedecea infections depends on antibiotic susceptibility testing because of variable resistance patterns and the enhanced infection risk in vulnerable populations.