Elizabethkingia

Elizabethkingia is a genus of bacterium described in 2005, named after Elizabeth O. King, the discoverer of the type species.[1] Before this genus being formed in 2005, many of the species of Elizabethkingia were classified in the Chryseobacterium genus.[2] Elizabethkingia has been found in soil, rivers, and reservoirs worldwide.[3]

A 2014 study revealed that Elizabethkingia is an emerging bacterial pathogen for hospital environments, with its incidence in intensive care units rising since 2004.[4] About 5-10 cases of Elizabethkingia are reported per state in the United States every year.[3] A recent study showed that incidence rates for Elizabethkingia increased by 432.1% for 2016-2017 over the incidence for 2009–2015.[5] It possesses genes conferring antibiotic resistance and virulence. Combined with a lack of effective therapeutic regimens, this leads to high mortality rates.[4] Due to the growing incidence rates, lack of treatments, and high mortality rate, intensive prevention of contamination is necessary.[5]

Neonatal meningitis is the most common presentation of Elizabethkingia for children. Recent studies suggest that approximately 31% of children that have Elizabethkingia pass away from the infection, with an average life expectancy of 27 days from onset of symptoms.[6] For the children who recover from Elizabethkingia, about 48% report typical development and full recovery. 30% indicated an onset of hydrocephalus post-recovery. Many other cases included various onsets post-recovery, including motor deficits, cognitive deficits, ongoing seizures, spasticity, and/or hearing loss.[6]

One of the more significant risk factors for Elizabethkingia is whether mechanical ventilation was used with the patient. Because it can form a biofilm in moist environments, water or water-related equipment can also aid in the transfer of Elizabethkinga in hospital environments.[5]

The genus includes four species:

• Elizabethkingia anophelis, isolated from Anopheles mosquitoes, can cause respiratory tract illness in humans,[7][8] and involved in an 2016 outbreak centered in Wisconsin.[9]
• Elizabethkingia endophytica, isolated from blemished stems of sweet corn, Zea mays[10]
• Elizabethkingia meningoseptica, can cause outbreaks of neonatal meningitis in premature newborns and infants[11]
• Elizabethkingia miricola, isolated from condensation water in Space Station Mir[12]