Alcaligenes


Alcaligenes

 [al″kah-lij´ĕ-nēz] a genus of gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria, found in the intestines of vertebrates, as part of the normal skin flora, and in dairy products. Occasionally it causes opportunistic infections, A. faeca´lis being a cause of nosocomial septicemia in immunocompromised patients.

Alcaligenes

(al-kā-lij'en-ēz), A genus of gram-negative, rod-shaped, nonfermenting bacteria (family Achromobacteraceae) that are either motile and peritrichous or nonmotile. They are strictly aerobic; some strains are capable of anaerobic respiration in the presence of nitrate or nitrite; their metabolism is respiratory, never fermentative; they do not use carbohydrates. Found mostly in the intestinal canal, decaying materials, dairy products, water, and soil; they can be isolated from human respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts and wounds in hospitalized patients with compromised immune systems; occasionally the cause of opportunistic infections, including nosocomial septicemia. Type species is Alcaligenes faecalis. [alkali + G. -gen, producing]

Al·ca·lig·e·nes

(al-kā-lij'en-ēz) A genus of gram-negative, rod-shaped, nonfermenting bacteria that are either motile and peritrichous or nonmotile. Found mostly in the intestinal canal, decaying materials, dairy products, water, and soil; they can be isolated from human respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts and wounds in hospitalized patients with compromised immune systems; occasionally the cause of opportunistic infections, including nosocomial septicemia. Type species is A. faecalis. [alkali + G. -gen, producing]