Kluyvera ascorbata infections in children: a case series

Kluyvera is a relatively newly described member of the Enterobacteriaceae family that rarely causes infections in humans. In the pediatric population, it is described in association with clinically significant infections ranging from urinary tract infections to sepsis with multiorgan failure. Our aim is to determine the clinical significance of K. ascorbata infections in the pediatric population at our institution. We retrospectively analyzed clinical microbiology data as from 2006 and identified four clinically significant isolates in this period. The isolates were from four cases who presented with sepsis, bacteremia associated with central venous catheter, pyelonephritis and intraabdominal collection. The ages of these patients ranged between seven months to 17 years. All patients received prompt antimicrobial treatment on the basis of susceptibility testing and good clinical response was obtained in all patients. Successful treatment options include third-generation cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, betalactams with beta-lactamase inhibitors and carbapenems. Clinicians should be aware of the spectrum of disease and increasing clinical importance associated with this pathogen.