Microbiology
Gram-negative rod, includes E. hoshinae, E. ictaluri, E. tarda. It is an Enterobacteriaceae.
Epidemiologic Risks
A water (brackish) and foodborne (freshwater fish like catfish where it lives in their intestines) organism. E. tardu looks like a British police box (PubMed).
Japan has the most cases, most US cases are from the Gulf coast.
Syndromes
E. tarda: A mild to moderate diarrhea.
The occasional bacteremia, worse in liver disease (PubMed).
"The most common clinical manifestations were hepatobiliary infection, including cholangitis, liver abscess, and cholecystitis. Overall 30-day mortality for E. tarda bacteremia was 12%, and overall 90-day mortality was 27% (PubMed)."
Treatment
All antibiotics you would use against E. coli.
Notes
Last Update: 10/10/19.