Pediatric Case Report: Urinary Tract Infection due to Emerging Pathogen Raoultella ornithinolytica in a Two-Month-Old Child
Abstract
Raoultella ornithinolytica is a Gram-negative, non-motile bacterium capable of forming biofilms. It is an emerging infection, with only a few cases reported in the United States and even fewer cases reported in pediatric patients in the U.S. This case report describes a community-acquired urinary tract infection caused by R. ornithinolytica in a two-month-old child. Given the paucity of cases of UTI caused by this bacterium, there are not standardized treatment protocols for this infection. We hypothesized that successful treatment of this infection could be achieved through analysis of PCR results describing antibiotic sensitivity from the patient’s urine culture. This patient presented to the emergency department with 1.5 weeks of intermittent fevers unrelieved by supportive care. A febrile workup was significant for bacteriuria, and the patient’s urine culture grew PCR-confirmed Raoultella ornithinolytica that was sensitive to ceftriaxone. The patient and her family had no sick contacts, but they had recently traveled to the beach a few weeks prior to the onset of the patient’s symptoms. Consistent with R. ornithinolytica’s intrinsic β-lactamase activity, the isolate was resistant to aminopenicillins but responded to seven days of IV ceftriaxone, after which the patient was discharged with complete resolution of symptoms. The patient had an outpatient ultrasound two weeks later that showed no anatomic abnormalities. Given the few instances of R. ornithinolytica in pediatric populations in the United States, successful reports of diagnosis and treatment of this infection are needed to inform care in future infections caused by this bacterium.
Start Time
16-4-2025 1:30 PM
End Time
16-4-2025 4:00 PM
Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Category
Health
Student Type
Clinical Doctoral Student (e.g., medical student, pharmacy student)
Faculty Mentor
Demetrio Macariola
Faculty Department
Pediatrics
Pediatric Case Report: Urinary Tract Infection due to Emerging Pathogen Raoultella ornithinolytica in a Two-Month-Old Child
Raoultella ornithinolytica is a Gram-negative, non-motile bacterium capable of forming biofilms. It is an emerging infection, with only a few cases reported in the United States and even fewer cases reported in pediatric patients in the U.S. This case report describes a community-acquired urinary tract infection caused by R. ornithinolytica in a two-month-old child. Given the paucity of cases of UTI caused by this bacterium, there are not standardized treatment protocols for this infection. We hypothesized that successful treatment of this infection could be achieved through analysis of PCR results describing antibiotic sensitivity from the patient’s urine culture. This patient presented to the emergency department with 1.5 weeks of intermittent fevers unrelieved by supportive care. A febrile workup was significant for bacteriuria, and the patient’s urine culture grew PCR-confirmed Raoultella ornithinolytica that was sensitive to ceftriaxone. The patient and her family had no sick contacts, but they had recently traveled to the beach a few weeks prior to the onset of the patient’s symptoms. Consistent with R. ornithinolytica’s intrinsic β-lactamase activity, the isolate was resistant to aminopenicillins but responded to seven days of IV ceftriaxone, after which the patient was discharged with complete resolution of symptoms. The patient had an outpatient ultrasound two weeks later that showed no anatomic abnormalities. Given the few instances of R. ornithinolytica in pediatric populations in the United States, successful reports of diagnosis and treatment of this infection are needed to inform care in future infections caused by this bacterium.
