Citrobacter species

Paul Auwaerter, M.D.

MICROBIOLOGY

Enteric aerobic Gram-negative bacilli [Fig 1], a normal part of gut flora.
It can be mistakenly identified as Salmonella; colonies on plates [Fig 2] resemble E. coli.
C. freundii, C. amalonaticus and C. koseri (previously known as C. diversus) are the species associated with human infection.
- C. braakii, a member of the C. freundii complex, is described as causing infection, mainly in immunocompromised patients.
Citrobacter spp. are commonly found in soil, water, foodstuffs, and the typical gut flora of humans and animals.

There's more to see -- the rest of this topic is available only to subscribers.