Epidemiology and Pathogenesis of Providencia alcalifaciens Infections

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2019 Aug;101(2):290-293. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.18-0376.

Abstract

Providencia alcalifaciens is a member of the family Enterobacteriaceae that has been commonly implicated as a causative agent of diarrheal infection in humans and animals. Recent outbreaks of P. alcalifaciens in both developing and developed countries have raised public health concerns. Several studies have suggested that P. alcalifaciens can cause diarrhea by invading the intestinal mucosa, although its pathogenicity has not been well established. Often routine laboratory investigations that seek etiological agents of diarrhea do not actively pursue P. alcalifaciens detection. Therefore, routine laboratory diagnosis should be given more attention for better understanding the epidemiology and pathogenicity of P. alcalifaciens.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Diarrhea / epidemiology*
  • Diarrhea / microbiology
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / epidemiology*
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / transmission
  • Feces
  • Foodborne Diseases / epidemiology
  • Foodborne Diseases / microbiology
  • Providencia / pathogenicity*

Supplementary concepts

  • Providencia alcalifaciens