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Definition of Elizabethkingia
Medically reviewed by Min Clinic Staff | Updated: January 2026
Elizabethkingia: a genus of bacteria that is commonly found in the environment worldwide. This type of bacteria rarely causes illness. When it has been noted to cause illness, it has caused meningitis in newborns and people with suppressed immune function as well as respiratory or blood infections in people with weakened immune systems. An outbreak of infection was reported in 2016 that was responsible for up to 20 deaths in Wisconsin and Michigan. Typically, about 5-10 cases occur yearly in each state.