Microbiological and Clinical Aspects of Raoultella spp.

Tobias M Appel,María F Mojica,Elsa De La Cadena,María Virginia Villegas,Natalia Quijano-Martínez

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2021.686789

Tobias M Appel, María F Mojica + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.686789

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Abstract

The genus Raoultella was established in 2001. Species of Raoultella and Klebsiella share many ecological, biochemical, clinical, and microbiological features. Given the shortcomings of available technology for species identification in the clinical microbiology laboratory, are practically indistinguishable. Since the late 2000s there has been an increase in case reports of human Raoultella infections. Therefore, several authors are postulating that Raoultella spp. are rare and/or emerging pathogens.Conclusions:Raoultella spp. are very similar to Klebsiella spp. The epidemiology and the clinical relevance of the human Raoultella spp. infections is uncertain and further studies are required. The previous difficulties in the identification of Raoultella spp. and the introduction of more precise identification techniques may explain the recent increase in the number of case reports. Raoultella spp. might be rather underdiagnosed than rare or emerging pathogens.

Highlights

Since the late 2000s, the number of case reports of human Raoultella-infections available in the literature has been growing remarkably [1]
From the 1980s until the 2006, only four case reports of human Raoultella-infections are available on PubMed, in contrast to more than 130 today
Due to this recent increase, several authors have been suggesting that Raoultella spp. are rare and emerging pathogens

Summary

Introduction

Since the late 2000s, the number of case reports of human Raoultella-infections available in the literature has been growing remarkably [1]. From the 1980s until the 2006, only four case reports of human Raoultella-infections are available on PubMed, in contrast to more than 130 today. Due to this recent increase, several authors have been suggesting that Raoultella spp. are rare and emerging pathogens. We review the literature regarding microbiological and clinical aspects of Raoultella spp. and compare key points of this genus with Klebsiella pneumoniae and K. oxytoca, two common human pathogens in the community, as well as in healthcare settings

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