Eisenbergiella tayi is a newly identified anaerobic pathogen, which was first isolated from a patient’s blood in Israel back in 2013. There is only one documented case of human infection involving an 84 year old man with multiple health issues and a history of abdominal surgery. The elderly patient felt chills, fever, and confusion, ultimately diagnosed with blood infection and septic shock. Identification of E. tayi was done through gene sequencing tests. During hospitalization, antibiotics helped the patient recover after two weeks. 

Enterobacter tayi is an uncommon bacterium. It can cause serious illnesses in people with weak immune systems or other health issues. More research is needed to understand E. tayi is in different places and populations. The bacteria’s genetic material has been found in human poop samples. It suggests E. tayi may normally live in the human gut and other body parts. 

E. tayi is a unique bacterium that belongs to the Eubacteriales order and the Lachnospiraceae family. This rod-shaped microbe lives without oxygen. It can’t move or form spores. E. tayi has a gram-positive cell wall and measures 0.5-0.7 micrometers wide and 1.5-3.0 micrometers long. 

Eisenbergiella tayi shows distinctive metabolic traits. It can break down arginine. It ferments D-mannose. It degrades L-glutamate. And it reduces nitrates. Eisenbergiella tayi‘s 16S rRNA gene sequence is 95.9% similar to Clostridium clostridioforme.

E. tayi has a small genome with just 3.5 Mb. Its G+C content is 29.4%. This bacterium synthesizes some unique fatty acids. The main constituents are C16:0, C18:1ω9c, and C18:2ω6,9c. When E. tayi ferments, it produces acetate, butyrate, and propionate. Isolated from human blood in Israel in 2014, the type strain B086562 (GenBank accession number KF534663) is cataloged under various identifiers, including DSM 26961, ATCC BAA-2558, LMG 27400, and CCUG 64075.

Eisenbergiella tayi can result in anaerobic bloodstream infections, especially for those with weak immunity or medical issues. Normally, this bacteria is habitat in the gut but can travel into the blood. E. tayi may cause severe issues by producing toxins or enzymes that damage the body’s tissues and dominate immune defenses. 

E. tayi spreads through feces entering the mouth, contact with dirty surfaces/equipment, and hospital-acquired infections. Many things raise the risk: diabetes, cancer, heart disease, surgeries, antibiotics. In severe cases, it causes inflammation throughout the body, septic shock, organ failure, and even death. The bacteria can attack vital organs like spleen, liver, and kidneys, making the infection worse.

Humans have complex defense systems to resist E. tayi penetrating host. Skin, membranes, tears, earwax, mucus, stomach acid, and urine limits & blocks E. tayi entering.  

In the blood, white cells like neutrophils and lymphocytes spot intruders like E. tayi. They are surrounded and destroyed by the phagocytotic process. Proteins in the blood, like complement and clotting factors cause swelling, clotting, and boost the immune responses. 

B lymphocytes generates antibodies targeting E. tayi and memory cells to remember the infection. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes directly attack infected cells. Helper T lymphocytes coordinate and enhance immune response against E. tayi. 

Eisenbergiella tayi infections in humans are not well understood. Only a few cases are reported, so symptoms are unclear. Despite being a rare occurrence, patients who are infected by Eisenbergiella tayi might face fever, chills, and stomach aches. More severe cases could even lead to sepsis, a life-threatening response. However, symptoms tend to differ. 

Blood tests help identify Eisenbergiella tayi bacteria in human blood. These tests are carried out in anaerobic conditions and using selective like CMC medium, fastidious anaerobe broth, or Columbia blood medium. During the two-day incubation period, colonies of E. tayi can be observed. 

16S rRNA gene sequencing is key for identifying Eisenbergiella tayi. Its 16S rRNA gene is around 1,500 base pairs long, has a unique signature distinguishing it from other species. This sequencing technique enables precise identification based on genetic traits, accurately differentiating E. tayi from other microbial species. 

The API rID32A biochemical test kit is another diagnostic tool for E. tayi. It assesses the bacterium’s metabolic activities like arginine hydrolysis, D-mannose fermentation, nitrate reduction, L-glutamate degradation, and raffinose fermentation. These biochemical tests provide insights into E. tayi‘s specific characteristics and behaviors, aiding comprehensive diagnosis. 

• Washing your hands well with soap & water is very important to prevent E. tayi infections. Wash hands before eating or after handling animals or feces. 

• Cook meat thoroughly and keep raw meat away from cooked food. Doing this properly lowers your risk of contamination and bacterial exposure through the food supply. Safe food practices are vital. 

• Only drink pasteurized milk and water from reliable, safe sources. Choose water sources with good safety records to avoid ingestion of waterborne pathogens and diseases. 

• Avoid any close contact with animals or people who have symptoms like diarrhea. Staying away from these sources reduces E. tayi transmission and getting infected. 

Characterization of isolates of Eisenbergiella tayi, a strictly anaerobic Gram-stain variable bacillus recovered from human in Canada – ScienceDirect 

Eisenbergiella tayi gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from human blood | Microbiology Society (microbiologyresearch.org)