NAME: Citrobacter spp.
SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: C. freundii, C. diversus (C. koseri), C. amalonaticus, C. intermedius, Escherichia intermedia, Escherichia freundii
CHARACTERISTICS: Gram negative rod, facultatively anaerobic, motile, use citrate as sole carbon source
PATHOGENICITY: Opportunistic pathogen, associated with nosocomial infections; causes diarrhea and secondary infections in immunocompromised patients and occasionally severe primary septicemia; C. koseri is associated with meningitis in infants <2 months old
EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide
HOST RANGE: Animals, humans
INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Fecal-oral transmission; contaminated food; person to person spread; mother to child
INCUBATION PERIOD: Not known
COMMUNICABILITY: As long as organism is shed in feces
RESERVOIR: Water, sewage, foodstuffs, intestinal tract of humans and animals
ZOONOSIS: None
VECTORS: None
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Susceptible to chloramphenicol, gentamicin, kanamycin and colistin
DRUG RESISTANCE: Antimicrobial resistance is becoming more and more widespread
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to many disinfectants - 1% sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol, 2% glutaraldehyde, iodines, phenolics, formaldehyde
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Sensitive to moist heat (121°C for at least 15 min) and dry heat (160-170°C for at least 1 hour)
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Survives well in water; can survive for a few hours on dry surfaces
SURVEILLANCE: None
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Administer antibiotic therapy, fluid replacement
IMMUNIZATION: None
PROPHYLAXIS: Not usually administered
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: No reported cases to date
SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Feces, urine, blood
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Ingestion, accidental parenteral inoculation
SPECIAL HAZARDS: None
CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Well designed laboratory with good microbiological practices; this level of containment does not allow for any additional risk that may present for those persons with pre-existing disease, compromised immunity or who are pregnant
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when direct contact with infectious materials is unavoidable
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: Good personal hygiene and frequent handwashing
SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover spill with paper towels and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite, starting at perimeter and working towards the centre; allow sufficient contact time (30 min) before clean up
DISPOSAL: Decontaminate before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration
STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled
Date prepared: January 2000
Prepared by: Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC
Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date.
Copyright ©
Health Canada, 2001