Enterobacter cloacae /en′tirōbak″tər klō·ā″kē, klō·ā″sē/ [Gk, enteron + bakterion, small staff; L, cloaca, sewer] , a common species of gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae found in human and animal feces, dairy products, sewage, soil, and water. E. cloacae are important nosocomial pathogens responsible for a number of infections such as bacteremia, lower respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, and septic arthritis.
