What Is Elizabethkingia?

Elizabethkingia is a genus of Gram-negative, opportunistic bacteria. It is the sole genus in the family Elizabethkingiaceae. The genus was named after Elizabeth O. King, who first described it in 1959.

Elizabethkingia species are found in a variety of environments, including soil, water, and plants. They are also found as commensals in the human respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts.

Elizabethkingia species can cause a variety of infections in humans, including pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis. These infections are more common in people who are immunocompromised.

Elizabethkingia infections are typically treated with antibiotics. However, some strains of Elizabethkingia are resistant to antibiotics, making them difficult to treat.

Elizabethkingia is a relatively new genus of bacteria, and much is still unknown about it. Further research is needed to understand the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of Elizabethkingia infections.