Table 1

Description of E. sakazakii and E. cloacae strains used in this study

Organism

Strain number

Neonate

Isolation site

Symptoms

Isolation date (day/mn/yr)

PFGE profile

E. sakazakii

696

D

Stools

NEC II^b

08/06/1994

1

E. sakazakii

701

F

Peritoneal fluid

NEC III^b (died)

07/04/1994

2

E. sakazakii

767^a

H

Trachea

Meningitis (died)

11/05/1994

2

E. sakazakii

709

C

Trachea

Septicaemia

12/05/1994

2

E. sakazakii

695^a

J

Trachea

NEC II (died)

07/06/1994

2

E. sakazakii

693

Q

Stools

Asymptomatic

18/06/1994

3

E. sakazakii

716

Infant formula

11/07/1994

4

E. cloacae

766

R

Blood culture

Sepsis (died)

04/06/1994

NA^c

a Strains demonstrated extended spectrum β-lactamase activities.

b NEC Stage II (definite NEC) is characterised by the systemic signs of temperature instability, apnoea, bradycardia, lethargy with additional symptoms of absence of bowel sounds, radiological signs of intestinal dilation, ileus and pneumatosis intestinalis. NEC Stage III (advanced NEC) is where the neonate is critically ill with metabolic acidosis, neutropenia, signs of generalised peritonitis, marked tenderness and distension of abdomen.

c NA, Not appropriate

Townsend et al. BMC Microbiology 2008 8:64   doi:10.1186/1471-2180-8-64