Enterobacter aerogenes - information sheet

Strain ATCC 13048

Overview

The Government of Canada conducted a science-based evaluation, called a screening assessment, of Enterobacter aerogenes strain ATCC 13048 to address the potential for harm to Canadians and to the environment.
Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999), the risk posed by a substance is determined by considering both its hazardous properties (its potential to cause adverse human health or ecological effects) and the amount of exposure there is to people or to the environment. A substance may have hazardous properties; however, the risk to human health or to the environment may be low depending upon the level of exposure.
- More information on assessing risk can be found in the Framework for Science-Based Risk Assessment of Micro-Organisms Regulated under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.
In the case of Enterobacter aerogenes strain ATCC 13048, the substance was estimated to have a medium hazard toward both the human health and the environment; and exposure to Canadians and the environment is low. Therefore, it is concluded that Enterobacter aerogenes strain ATCC 13048 is not harmful to human health or to the environment.

This screening assessment focuses on the organism, Enterobacter aerogenes strain ATCC 13048. This Priority A (higher hazard) organism was assessed as part of the micro-organism initiative of the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP).
Enterobacter aerogenes strain ATCC 13048 is a bacteria that could have number of consumer, commercial and industrial uses.
Enterobacter aerogenes strain ATCC 13048 has characteristics in common with strains of the species Enterobacter aerogenes and is found in nature.
The characteristics of Enterobacter aerogenes strain ATCC 13048 make it suitable for use in various applications including water and wastewater treatment, bioremediation, production of energy and fuels and enzyme production.
Based on a 2009 survey, Enterobacter aerogenes strain ATCC 13048 was not reported to be manufactured in or imported into Canada, except for uses limited to academic research, teaching, and research and development activities.

According to information available to the Government of Canada, Canadians are not expected to be exposed to Enterobacter aerogenes strain ATCC 13048, nor is it expected to be released into the Canadian environment.
Enterobacter aerogenes strain ATCC 13048 is considered to be a Risk Group 2 human pathogen by the Public Health Agency of Canada and measures to reduce human and environmental exposure to Risk Group 2 pathogens from their use in research and teaching laboratories are in place under the Canadian Biosafety Standard Second Edition, 2015 (CBS 2015).

Enterobacter aerogenes is often associated with hospital-acquired infections in humans. Severe disease or fatality is limited to susceptible sub-populations (with compromised immune system) or is rare, localized and rapidly self-resolving in healthy humans.
Antibiotics effective against Enterobacter aerogenes infections are available; however, the treatment of Enterobacter aerogenes strain ATCC 13048 infections could be hampered by its development of resistance to various classes of antimicrobial drugs of very high importance to human medicine.
Generally, infection causes some adverse but reversible effects and effective treatments or mitigation measures are available. However, under certain circumstances, Enterobacter aerogenes has been reported to result in the death of infected animals.

Considering all information presented in this assessment, the risk to human health from Enterobacter aerogenes strain ATCC 13048 is low.
Also considering all information presented, there is low risk of harm to organisms and the broader integrity of the environment from Enterobacter aerogenes strain ATCC 13048.
The Government of Canada published the Final Screening Assessment for Enterobacter aerogenes strain ATCC 13048 on March 24, 2018.

As a result of this screening assessment, the Government concluded that Enterobacter aerogenes strain ATCC 13048 is not harmful to human health at current levels of exposure.
The Government also concluded that Enterobacter aerogenes strain ATCC 13048 is not entering the environment at levels that may be harmful to the environment.

Enterobacter aerogenes strain ATCC 13048 is considered to be a Risk Group 2 human pathogen by the Public Health Agency of Canada. A license under the Human Pathogens and Toxins Regulations is required for controlled activities with Risk Group 2 human pathogens. Adhering to provisions of the Canadian Biosafety Standard Second Edition, 2015 (CBS 2015), as a condition of the license, is expected to minimize human and environmental exposure to Risk Group 2 pathogens, including Enterobacter aerogenes strain ATCC 13048.
The Government will take no further action under CEPA 1999 on Enterobacter aerogenes strain ATCC 13048 while it remains subject to requirements for Risk Group 2 pathogens under the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act.
The Government is taking a Health portfolio approach to the risk management of Enterobacter aerogenes strain ATCC 13048.