[3 new cases of Enterobacter taylorae infection]

Enterobacter taylorae is a recently identified microorganism pertaining to the enterobacterian family. To date few infections by this organism have been reported with their clinical significance being unknown. Three patients with Enterobacter taylorae infection are described with the possible pathogenic capacity of this microorganism in concurrence with opportune epidemiologic features being commented upon in addition to the different sources of infection.

Biochemical identification of the microorganisms was performed by the automatized MicroScan system (Baxter). The sensitivity to the different antimicrobians was determined by automatized reading (Baxter) of the seried microdilution to the last point.

The two first patients presented infection of an open wound with E. taylorae being isolated from the culture of the exudate of the wound and from a culture of the drainage point, respectively. The third patient developed nosocomial bacteremia following prolonged hospital stay with growth of E. taylorae being found in two different blood culture series. Different biotypes of the E. taylorae species were isolated in the three patients. Specific treatment was administered to the three patients according to the antibiogram with improvement in the clinical manifestations being observed.

The three clinical cases herewith described suggest that E. taylorae is a potentially pathogenic microorganism which, in determined circumstances (empiric antibiotic treatment, open wounds, diagnostic or therapeutic instruments) may produce clinical pictures similar to those described for other Enterobacter species.