Clinical Issues of Resistance: Problematic Microbes: Enterobacteriaceae

Enterobacteriaceae are usual inhabitants of the lower gastrointestinal tract in humans and other animals, hence the term “enterics” as they are usually named. However, these organisms have been found colonizing different environments, including hospital settings, water, soil, and vegetation. Their importance in clinical settings has grown during the last decades because of increasing number of multi-resistant clinical isolates in the community as well as in the hospital setting. Antibiotic management for these infections can be a challenge, as inappropriate treatment has been associated with unfavorable outcomes. In this chapter, we will discuss the critical aspects of the family including the clinical features of the most important genera, the implications of resistance, and the treatment options for these pathogens.