Detection of Enterobacter sakazakii in neonatal sepsis by PCR on 16S ribosomal RNA

Enterobacter sakazakii is a gram negative, facultative anaerobic, straight rod-shaped bacterium that belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae. It is also considered an emerging opportunistic pathogen, responsible of cases of neonatal infections including sepsis, meningitis, necrotizing enterocolitis ad bacteremia. The goal of this study was detection of Enterobacter salazakii in neonates with sepsis by PCR on 16S ribosomal RNA gene. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 405 blood specimens that were taken from hospitalized neonates suspected to sepsis in Ahvaz Abuzar Hospital in 2011. From each neonate 0.5 ml blood sample was taken and placed in CBC tubes containing EDTA at -200C for polymerase chain reaction. For detection of Enterobacter sakazakii, PCR was performed on DNA for amplification of 16S ribosomal RNA gene. In all 405 neonates blood samples’ PCR reactions for Enterobacter sakazakii 16S ribosomal RNA gene were negative. Blood cultures were positive for Streptococcus agalactiae in 8 (1.4 %) patients. Because Enterobacter sakazakii is an opportunistic pathogen with high pathogenicity power, more investigation on high risk groups is required. For detection of infection caused by this organism using of different diagnostic methods with high specificity and sensitivity is necessary.