General information
Sphingobacterium species are capable of behaving as an opportunistic pathogen and producing severe infection in compromised patients.

Taxonomy
Family: Sphingobacteriaceae
Formerly: Flavobacterium

Natural habitat
In the environment, in food products, in an aqueous environment of a hospital, such as; the sink, incubators, water from the tap, hemodialysis systems and all kinds of aqueous solutions.

Does not belong to the normal flora of the human being.

Clinical significance
They are rarely involved in human infections. Two species S.multivorum and S. spiritivorum have occasionally been associated with bacteremia, peritonitis and chronic respiratory infections in patients with severe underlying conditions.