Identification of Hafnia alvei with the MicroScan WalkAway System

Hafnia alvei is a gram-negative facultatively anaerobic bacillus that belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae. This organism is a causative agent of intestinal disorders and is found in different environments. H. alvei has received increased clinical attention as a cause of different infections in humans. This study was performed to compare the MicroScan WalkAway automated identification system in conjunction with the new MicroScan Combo Negative type 1S panels with conventional biochemical methods for identification of 21 H. alvei strains. The MicroScan WalkAway system was found capable of correctly identifying 20 of the 21 strains tested.