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Glite Dictionary
Enterobacter cloacae

Enterobacter cloacae

7.4
A type of bacteria that lives in the environment and sometimes causes infections in hospitals
  • noun
  • /ˌɛntəroʊˈbæktər kloʊˈkeɪ/
  • Specialized
: Enterobacter cloacae
  • Proper hand hygiene can help prevent the spread of Enterobacter cloacae in hospitals.

Examples

  • The laboratory identified Enterobacter cloacae as the cause of the patient's infection.

  • Doctors monitored the outbreak of Enterobacter cloacae closely to protect vulnerable patients.

  • The Enterobacter cloacae bacteria are often found in soil.

  • Did you know that Enterobacter cloacae can cause infections?

  • The laboratory identified Enterobacter cloacae as the cause of the patient's infection.

  • Proper hand hygiene can help prevent the spread of Enterobacter cloacae in hospitals.

  • Doctors monitored the outbreak of Enterobacter cloacae closely to protect vulnerable patients.

Surface Forms

Enterobacter cloacae singular
Enterobacter cloacae plural

Morphology

Enterobacter + cloaca

This is a Latin taxonomic name rather than a compositional English phrase; a B1 learner who knows 'cloaca' (an anatomical chamber) would not be able to infer that the term names a species of bacteria. 'Enterobacter' is not a common English word and the binomial functions as a proper scientific name whose meaning must be learned, so it is not transparently derivable from its parts.

Etymology

Enterobacter cloacae comes from older words: Entero- means 'intestine' and cloacae means 'sewer' or 'drain'. Because it was first found in guts and in drains, the name helps you remember that this bacterium lives in the environment and can cause infections in hospitals.