Peritonitis due to Kluyvera ascorbata: case report and review

Abstract

Kluyvera, a new genus in the family Enterobacteriaceae, was formerly known as enteric group 8 and as API group 1. Although Kluyvera species have been isolated from various clinical specimens such as sputum, urine, stool, and blood, the clinical significance of these isolates has not been established. Recently, we treated a child who developed peritonitis due to Kluyvera ascorbata. The repeated isolation of the organism in pure culture from the peritoneal fluid and its isolation from postmortem subdiaphragmatic microabscesses suggest that Kluyvera can be clinically significant. Review of the literature clearly indicates that Kluyvera strains are infrequent but potentially dangerous pathogens in humans. Further experience is needed to determine the therapeutic efficacy of the various antibiotics to which these bacteria are sensitive in vitro.