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Enterobacter sakazakii is a gram-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium within the family Enterobacteriaceae. The organism was called "yellow-pigmented Enterobacter cloacae" until 1980 when it was renamed Enterobacter sakazakii. (1)
In the April 12th issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on a fatal case of meningitis in an intensive care nursery in Tennessee. The infecting organism was Enterobacter sakazakii, an unusual but often fatal, invasive pathogen. In the fatal Tennessee case, the infection was traced to contaminated powdered infant formula. Other infants in the same nursery were screened for E sakazakii. Of 49 screened infants, 10 events were discovered (1 proven infection, 2 assumed infections, and 7 colonizations). This report detailed for the first time a direct link to an unopened product. The manufacturer voluntarily recalled the contaminated batch of powdered formula identified as the source. (2)
Continue Reading Enterobacter sakazakii: Infections Associated with Powdered Infant Formula
On April 12, 2002, the FDA alerted health care professionals about the risk of Enterobacter sakazakii (E.sakazakii) infections in hospitalized newborn infants, particularly premature infants or other immuno-compromised infants fed powdered infant formulas. This alert issued by FDA is targeted to concerns for immuno-compromised infants in hospital settings. The FDA is not aware of E.
Joanna Larez of the Greeley Tribune reports that Nelly Morales had given her baby almost two full cans of formula before she heard about traces of metal that might be contained in the batch.