The genus Citrobacter is distributed widely in nature, yet its pathogenic potential has only recently been recognized. Previous reports have emphasized the association of these organisms with disease in adults, especially the elderly, debilitated, and immunocompromised.1-5 Current interest in pediatric Citrobacter infections has stemmed from the isolation of C diversus from neonates with meningitis and brain abscesses.6-13
To our knowledge, there have been no reports of the etiologic association of C diversus with urinary tract infections in children. We wish to describe our experience with two children for whom C diversus was a primary urinary pathogen.
Report of Cases.—Case 1.—An 840-g male infant was born to a 29-year-old, gravida 7, para 6, abortus 1 mother after 30 to 32 weeks of gestation. He had a spontaneous breech presentation and was given Apgar scores of 1, 5, and 9 at one, five, and ten minutes, respectively. On