Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with pneumonia caused by Raoultella planticola.

Abstract

BackgroundRaoultella planticola, considered to be an environmental organism, is a rare cause of human infections. Although in recent years the frequency of R. planticola infections reported in the literature has increased, few cases of pneumonia caused by R. planticola have been described. Here, we investigate the clinical characteristics, management, and clinical outcomes of pneumonia caused by R. planticola.MethodsConsecutive patients with pneumonia caused by R. planticola were included. The medical records of patients with R. planticola pneumonia treated at Dankook University Hospital from January 2011 to December 2017 were collected.ResultsA total of 11 adult patients with R. planticola pneumonia were diagnosed and treated [10 males and 1 female; median age, 70 years (range: 51–79 years)]; 5 patients had underlying malignant conditions (45.5%). Antibacterial susceptibility testing showed that all isolates of R. planticola were susceptible to cephalosporins, carbapenems, fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, and beta-lactams/beta-lactamase inhibitors. Chest imaging revealed consolidation (8/11, 72.7%), ground-glass opacity (5/11, 45.5%), pleural effusion (5/11, 45.5%), and micronodules (3/11, 27.3%). Four patients (36.4%) required mechanical ventilation; three survived but one died of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (principally pneumonia and septic shock).ConclusionsR. planticola pneumonia occurred mainly in patients with underlying risk factors such as malignant disease, cerebral infarction or hemorrhage, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The organism was sensitive to most antibiotics, and the clinical outcomes were favorable after empirical antibiotic therapy.