Types of Enteric Bacteria

Enteric bacteria are rod shaped bacteria. They are Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria that metabolize glucose to acids; however, they can also live under aerobic conditions. Enteric bacteria live in the intestinal tracts of humans and animals. Some cause disease, but some do not. Hand washing is the best way to prevent unwanted infection from enteric bacteria.

Escherichia coli

• Many strains of Escherichia coli live in healthy human intestines and do not cause illness. A few strains of Escherichia coli can cause intestinal infections, urinary tract infections and neonatal meningitis. Citrobacter rodentium is the mouse equivalent of Escherichia coli.

Salmonella

• Salmonella enterica causes food poisoning with inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Salmonella typhi causes typhoid fever with high fever, headache, coughing, intestinal hemorrhaging and pinkish-red spots on the skin.

Shigella

• Shigella dysenteriae causes dysentery with fever, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Shigella sonnei causes bloody stools, diarrhea, fever, fatigue, cramping and a constant feeling of needing to empty the bowls. Shigella boydii causes stomach cramps, fever, mucus in the feces and bloody diarrhea.

Klebsiella pneumoniae

• Klebsiella pneumoniae causes urinary tract infections, pneumonia, bacterial infection of the blood and soft tissue infections.

Enterobacter aerogenes

• Enterobacter aerogenes causes respiratory, gastrointestinal, wound, central nervous system infections and cystits.