''Ewingella americana'' is a

Gram-negative Gram-negative bacteria are bacteria that, unlike gram-positive bacteria, do not retain the crystal violet stain used in the Gram staining method of bacterial differentiation. Their defining characteristic is that their cell envelope consists ...

rod, and the only species in the genus ''Ewingella''. It was first identified and characterized in 1983. ''Ewingella'' is in the family

Yersiniaceae The Yersiniaceae are a family of Gram-negative bacteria that includes some familiar pathogens. For example, the type genus ''Yersinia'' includes ''Yersinia pestis'', the causative agent of plague. This family is a member of the order Enterobacte ...

. The organism is rarely reported as a human pathogen, though it has been isolated from a variety of clinical specimens, including wounds, sputum, urine, stool, blood,

synovial fluid Synovial fluid, also called synovia, elp 1/sup> is a viscous, non-Newtonian fluid found in the cavities of synovial joints. With its egg white–like consistency, the principal role of synovial fluid is to reduce friction between the articul ...

conjunctiva In the anatomy of the eye, the conjunctiva (: conjunctivae) is a thin mucous membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the sclera (the white of the eye). It is composed of non-keratinized, stratified squamous epithelium with gobl ...

, and peritoneal dialysate. The bacterium is named in honor of William H. Ewing, an American biologist who contributed to modern taxonomy.

Epidemiology

Respiratory-tract infections following retainment in intensive-care units has been observed in several instances. A case of ''E. americana'' causing osteomyelitis and septic arthritis of the shoulder joint in a previous intravenous drug abuser has also been reported. Vascular bypass surgery is a reported risk factor for colonization. Debate currently exists as to this organism's predilection for immunocompromised patients.

Pathophysiology and biochemistry

''E. americana'' is an organism with simple nutritional needs that can survive in water and

citrate Citric acid is an organic compound with the formula . It is a colorless weak organic acid. It occurs naturally in citrus fruits. In biochemistry Biochemistry, or biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes within and relati ...

solution, and preferentially grows at 4°C. Domestic sources of water, including air conditioning units, ice baths, and wound irrigation systems, have been cited as sources of infection.

References

External links

Type strain of ''Ewingella americana'' at Bac''Dive'' - the Bacterial Diversity Metadatabase
Bacteria described in 1984 {{Gammaproteobacteria-stub