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Citrobacter is a genus of Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped[2]coliformbacteria of the Enterobacteriaceaefamily.
Citrobacter spp. cause opportunistic infections (including urinary tract infections, gastroenteritis, and bacteremia).[2]
The speciesC. amalonaticus, C. koseri, and C. freundii can use citrate as a sole carbon source. Citrobacter species are differentiated by their ability to convert tryptophan to indole (C. koseri is the only citrobacter to be commonly indole-positive), ferment lactose (C. koseri is a lactose fermentor), and use malonate.[3]
Citrobacter shows the ability to accumulate uranium by building phosphate complexes.[4]
These bacteria can be found almost everywhere in soil, water, wastewater, etc. They can also be found in the humanintestine.[5][6]
Citrobacter are found in the intestinal tract of humans and transmission usually occurs through human to human contact.[7] They are considered opportunistic nosocomial pathogens, typically associated with urinary tract infections and infantmeningitis and sepsis.[8]
Citrobacter freundii strains have inducible ampC genes encoding resistance to ampicillin and first-generation cephalosporins.[9] In addition, isolates of Citrobacter may be resistant to many other antibiotics as a result of plasmid-encoded resistance genes.[8]