Citrobacter freundii
Most commonly, Citrobacter freundii lives as a normal occupant in the feces from the intestinal tract of humans and animals (1). C. freundii can also be found in soils, water, sewage, and food (1).
Being a facultative anaerobe, C. freundii can live in both the absence and presence of oxygen (1). The bacterium’s optimal temperature is 37ᵒC (1). C. frundeii is also a chemoorganotrophic, which means that the microorganism requires an organic source of carbon to oxidize chemical bonds from for its energy source (1).
C. freundii is an opportunistic pathogen and can be found as a superinfection in those that are immune-deprived, especially in the biliary, respiratory, and urinary tract infections (2). These bacteria can contaminate any body site in those with weakened immune systems, especially in the bloodstream, surgical wounds, the gastronomical tract, and the brain (2). The bacteria can cause diarrhea, septicemia, neonatal meningitis, and brain abscesses (3). Many of these infections and diseases lead to fatality (3).
Depending on the infection developed from C. freundii, a variety of different symptoms can be developed. The first is diarrhea, in which toxins from C. freundii are found within the gastronomical tract (4). The most common symptoms of C. freundii are those related to neonatal meningitis (5). Fever, an altered sensorium, and rushed breathing are all physical symptoms of this disease, along with excessive swelling of the head and seizures (5). Because C. freundii causes many different types of common infections, such as an infection of the biliary or urinary tract, symptoms associated with each infection vary (3). For example, if C. freundii was the cause of a urinary tract infection, symptoms would be painful urination, urge to urinate, irritability, lower abdominal discomfort, headaches, and nausea (3).
C. freundii is found to be a resistant bacterium to many antibiotics including ampicillin, piperacillin, piperacillintazobactam, fluoroquinolone,
Being a facultative anaerobe, C. freundii can live in both the absence and presence of oxygen (1). The bacterium’s optimal temperature is 37ᵒC (1). C. frundeii is also a chemoorganotrophic, which means that the microorganism requires an organic source of carbon to oxidize chemical bonds from for its energy source (1).
C. freundii is an opportunistic pathogen and can be found as a superinfection in those that are immune-deprived, especially in the biliary, respiratory, and urinary tract infections (2). These bacteria can contaminate any body site in those with weakened immune systems, especially in the bloodstream, surgical wounds, the gastronomical tract, and the brain (2). The bacteria can cause diarrhea, septicemia, neonatal meningitis, and brain abscesses (3). Many of these infections and diseases lead to fatality (3).
Depending on the infection developed from C. freundii, a variety of different symptoms can be developed. The first is diarrhea, in which toxins from C. freundii are found within the gastronomical tract (4). The most common symptoms of C. freundii are those related to neonatal meningitis (5). Fever, an altered sensorium, and rushed breathing are all physical symptoms of this disease, along with excessive swelling of the head and seizures (5). Because C. freundii causes many different types of common infections, such as an infection of the biliary or urinary tract, symptoms associated with each infection vary (3). For example, if C. freundii was the cause of a urinary tract infection, symptoms would be painful urination, urge to urinate, irritability, lower abdominal discomfort, headaches, and nausea (3).
C. freundii is found to be a resistant bacterium to many antibiotics including ampicillin, piperacillin, piperacillintazobactam, fluoroquinolone,
References: 1. Bergey DH, Holt JG. Bergey 's manual of determinative bacteriology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1994:177. 2. Whalen, J. G.; Mully, T. W.; English, J. C. (2007). "Spontaneous Citrobacter freundii Infection in an Immunocompetent Patient". Archives of Dermatology 143 (1): 124–125. 3. Malpas TJ, Munoz JJ, Muscat I. Vertical transmission of Citrobacter freundii. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2004;89. 4. Bai L, Xia S, Lan R, Liu L, Ye C; et al. Isolation and Characterization of Cytotoxic, Aggregative Citrobacter freundii: e33054. PLoS One 7. 3 (Mar 2012). 5. Mukhopadhyay C, Dey A, Bairy I. Citrobacter freundii infection in glutaric aciduria type 1: Adding insult to injury. Journal of Postgraduate Medicine 54. 1 (Jan-Mar 2008): 35-6. 6. Nada T, Baba H, Kawamura K, Ohkura T, Torii K, Ohta M. "A small outbreak of third generation cephem-resistant Citrobacter freundii infection on a surgical ward" Jpn J Infect Dis. 2004 Aug;57(4): p.181-182.