Citrobacter farmeri (often referenced as Citrobacter freundii complex) is a Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium that belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family. Here's a rundown of its colony characteristics, motility, and Gram staining:
Colony Characteristics:
Appearance: On nutrient agar, colonies are typically moist, smooth, and circular with an entire edge. They can be described as convex in shape with a shiny surface.
Color: Generally, they appear as off-white to creamy in color.
Size: Medium to large-sized colonies after 24-48 hours of incubation.
Special Media: On MacConkey agar, Citrobacter species can ferment lactose, leading to pink/red colonies. This is due to the production of acid from lactose fermentation.
Motility:
Citrobacter farmeri is motile by means of peritrichous flagella. That means it has multiple flagella distributed over the entire cell surface, allowing it to move in liquid media.
Gram Staining:
Staining: Citrobacter farmeri is Gram-negative, so it stains pink/red in a Gram stain procedure.
Morphology: Under the microscope, they appear as straight rods.
Additional Information:
Citrobacter farmeri can sometimes be associated with various infections in humans, including urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, and bloodstream infections.
These bacteria can be opportunistic pathogens, especially in immunocompromised individuals or in healthcare settings.
They can possess various antibiotic resistance mechanisms, so antibiotic susceptibility testing is crucial when dealing with infections caused by this organism.
Always remember to handle clinical isolates with care and follow standard microbiological practices when working with potentially pathogenic bacteria. If you're studying or working with this bacterium in a lab setting, always refer to the specific strain and its detailed characteristics since bacterial characteristics can vary slightly based on the strain and environmental conditions.
Citrobacter farmeri,
Enterobacteriaceae,
Gram-negative,
Facultatively anaerobic,
Rod-shaped bacterium,
Colony characteristics,
Nutrient agar,
MacConkey agar,
Lactose fermentation,
Pink/red colonies,
Motility,
Peritrichous flagella,
Gram staining,
Pink/red stain,
Straight rods,
Opportunistic pathogens,
Urinary tract infections,
Antibiotic resistance,
Susceptibility testing,
Microbiological practices,
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Microhub,
Medicallabnotes,
Medlabsolutions,
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