Enterobacteriaceae Family: Common Characteristics

Antigens of Enterobacteriaceae family

Enterobacteriaceae family contains a large number of genera that are biochemically and
genetically related to one another. Many of the traditional or familiar bacteria are found in this
family e.g. Escherichia, Shigella, Salmonella, Enterobacter, Proteus, Yersinia etc.

Common characteristics of family Enterobacteriaceae are:

1. They are gram negative, short rods (Read about Gram staining here)
2. They are non-sporulating, facultative anaerobes
3. These organism have simple nutritional requirements and MacConkey agar is used to
isolate and differentiate organisms of Enterobacteriaceae family (Pink colored colonies
of lactose fermenter-coliforms and pale colored colonies of Non lactose fermenter)

LF and NLF colonies in MacConkey Agar

Lactose fermenters: (CEEK)

1. Citrobacter
2. Escherichia
 3. Enterobacter
4. Klebsiella

Non lactose fermenter (ShYPS)

5. Shigella
6. Yersinia
7. Proteus
8. Salmonella

4. Motility if present is by means of peritrichous (lateral) flagella. Motile by peritrichous

flagella, except Shigella and Klebsiella which are non-motile
5. They are catalase positive
6. Cytochrome C oxidase negative (enteric always negative-separates enterics from oxidase
positive bacteria of genera Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Vibrio, Alcaligenes,
Achromobacter, Flavibacterium, Cardiobacterium which may have similar morphology.)
7. Usually reduces Nitrate to Nitrite (distinguishes enteric bacteria from bacteria that
reduce nitrate to Nitrogen gas, such as Pseudomonas and many other oxidase positive
bacteria).
Find out more about Nitrate Reduction Test
 8. Cell contain a characteristic antigen, called the enterobacterial common antigen.

Antigens of Enterobacteriaceae family

Antigens of Enterobacteriaceae are:

1. O:Outer membrane
2. H: Flagella
3. K: Capsule
4. Vi: Capsule of Salmonella
9. Produces acid from glucose; ability to ferment lactose- distinguishes enteric from
obligately aerobic bacteria.
10. Sodium neither required nor stimulatory for growth

Tests for identification of members of Enterobacteriaceae

family
Member of the Enterobacteriaceae family are identified based on their biochemical properties.
Commonly used biochemical tests to identify them are (Please click on the test name to know
more about that particular test);

1. Citrate utilization Test

2. Indole Test
3. Motility Test
4. Methyl Red (MR) Test
5. Voges–Proskauer (VP) Test
6. Triple Sugar Iron (TSI) Agar Test
7. Urease Test

Antimicrobial Resistance
Carbapenem-resistant or carbapenamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae have been reported
worldwide and are major threats for global well being. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae
(CRE) are usually resistant to all β-lactam agents as well as most other classes of antimicrobial
agents, which limits the available treatment options.

Carbapenem resistance in Enterobacteriaceae occurs when an isolate acquires a carbapenemase

or when
an isolate produces an extended-spectrum cephalosporinase, such as an AmpC-type β-lactamase,
in
combination with porin loss. Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) is one of the most
common mechanism of carbapenem resistance.

Modified Hodge Test (MHT) is one of the recommended test for the detection of
carbapenemase production.