Bacterium
Enterobacter cloacae
Motile enteric rod with inducible AmpC
en-ter-oh-BAK-ter klo-AY-see
High-yield clue
Lactose-fermenting enteric rod that can express inducible AmpC beta-lactamase, so susceptibility can shift while on certain cephalosporins.
Overview
A motile Gram-negative enteric rod in Enterobacterales used in coursework to anchor the concept of inducible chromosomal AmpC beta-lactamase and healthcare-associated opportunistic infection vocabulary.
Classification
- Gram-negative
- Rod
- Enterobacterales
- Facultative anaerobe
- Motile
Lab & identification clues
- Lactose fermenter on MacConkey vocabulary
- Motile teaching distinction
- Inducible AmpC beta-lactamase vocabulary
- Ornithine decarboxylase positive concept
Associations
- Healthcare-associated bloodstream infection vocabulary
- Ventilator-associated pneumonia study association
- AmpC-mediated cephalosporin resistance framing
Commonly confused with
- Klebsiella pneumoniae
- Citrobacter freundii
Frequently asked questions
What is Enterobacter cloacae?
A motile Gram-negative enteric rod in Enterobacterales used in coursework to anchor the concept of inducible chromosomal AmpC beta-lactamase and healthcare-associated opportunistic infection vocabulary.
What is the Gram stain of Enterobacter cloacae?
Enterobacter cloacae is Gram negative.
What are the lab clues for Enterobacter cloacae?
Lab clues for Enterobacter cloacae include Lactose fermenter on MacConkey vocabulary, Motile teaching distinction, Inducible AmpC beta-lactamase vocabulary, and Ornithine decarboxylase positive concept.
What is Enterobacter cloacae commonly confused with?
Enterobacter cloacae is commonly confused with Klebsiella pneumoniae and Citrobacter freundii.
Original student-study summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment, dosing, or specimen-handling guidance.