A Case of Bacteremia Caused by Raoultella planticola Direct Identification from Blood Culture by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2024 May;25(4):335-337. doi: 10.1089/sur.2024.057. Epub 2024 May 2.

Abstract

Background: Raoultella planticola is an uncommon gram-negative organism found in the environment. Patients and Methods: The patient, an 81-year-old female who had undergone total cystectomy and bilateral ureteral stoma surgery, presented to the hospital with a fever. It was determined that Raoultella planticola was responsible for the bacteremia. Results: Rapid identification of bacteria using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) in blood culture samples and appropriate antibacterial treatment was begun and the patient was discharged three days later. Conclusions: This case emphasizes the presence of a rare pathogen as the cause of bacteremia and underscores the importance of utilizing rapid methods for bacterial identification to establish an accurate diagnosis.

Keywords: MALDI-TOF; Raoultella planticola; bacteremia; case report.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Bacteremia* / diagnosis
  • Bacteremia* / microbiology
  • Blood Culture* / methods
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections* / diagnosis
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections* / microbiology
  • Enterobacteriaceae* / isolation & purification
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization* / methods