BACTERIUM AEROGENES Meaning and
Definition
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Bacterium aerogenes is a Gram-negative, facultative anaerobic bacterium belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae. It is a rod-shaped bacterium that typically measures 0.3-1.0 μm in width and 1.0-2.0 μm in length. Bacterium aerogenes was previously known as Enterobacter aerogenes until reclassification in the early 1980s.
This bacterium is widely distributed in the environment and can commonly be found in soil, water, sewage, and the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals. It is also considered an opportunistic pathogen that can cause infections in immunocompromised individuals.
Bacterium aerogenes exhibits both fermentative and respiratory metabolism, enabling it to grow in various conditions. It is capable of utilizing a wide range of substrates, including sugars, alcohols, organic acids, and a few complex polymers.
In a clinical setting, Bacterium aerogenes is often associated with urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections, wound infections, and bacteremia. It has also been found to be a causative agent of nosocomial infections, particularly in hospital settings.
Key characteristics of Bacterium aerogenes include its ability to produce gas during fermentation, its resistance to some antibiotics such as the penicillin class, and its ability to form biofilms, enhancing its survival and resistance in different environments.
In summary, Bacterium aerogenes is a Gram-negative bacterium that is widely distributed in the environment and is associated with various infections. Understanding its characteristics and behavior is crucial for effective diagnosis and management of infections caused by this bacterium.
Etymology of BACTERIUM AEROGENES
The word "bacterium" comes from the Greek word "bakterion", meaning a small rod or staff. It is a diminutive form of "bakteria", which means a staff or cane. The term was originally introduced by German zoologist Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg in 1828 to describe certain microscopic organisms.
The word "aerogenes" is Latin and can be broken down into two parts: "aero" meaning air, and "genes" meaning generated or produced. Thus, "aerogenes" can be translated to mean air-generated or air-producing.
Therefore, the term "Bacterium aerogenes" can be understood to mean a rod-shaped microorganism capable of producing gas or gas-forming in the air.
