NTU Undergraduates' research April 2014 - Biosciences | Page 26

Patricia Ssemakula
Project supervisor: Professor Stephen Forsythe

N0370428

Characterisation of bacteria from enteral neonatal feeding tubes
ABSTRACT

In 2010, neonatal sepsis caused approximately 1 million deaths worldwide. Research on enteral
neonatal feeding tubes as loci for colonization by bacteria and the implications of misidentification of
these bacteria has highlighted the importance of correct identification in order to determine the
likelihood of infection and the risk the organisms may pose to a neonate if ingested. Using
conventional microbiological techniques on two Enterobacteriaceae samples, isolated from patients
suffering from neonatal sepsis, the bacteria were revealed to be Enterobacter aerogenes and
Enterobacter cloacae. Results of subsequent tests showed that both bacteria were resistant to a
number of antibiotics, able to secrete siderophores and utilize sialic acid in their metabolism,
concluding that they have the potential to cause harm to a neonate.
Keywords: neonatal sepsis, enteral neonatal feeding tubes, microbiological techniques, bacteria, sialic
acid, siderophores, Enterobacter aerogenes and Enterobacter cloacae.