A Rare Agent in the Etiology of Complicated Skin and Soft Tissue Infection: Raoultella Planticola

Abstract

Raoultella species are gram-negative, non-motile bacilli primarily considered to be environmental bacteria. R. planticola is a rare cause of human infections. Here in we report a case of complicated skin and soft tissue infection, necrotizing fasciitis with a rare etiologic agent R. planticola, treated with tigecycline. A 32-year-old male admitted to the emergency service with complaints of swelling in the neck, pain and a purulent wound on the mandible. He also had toothache for the last three weeks for which he was prescribed metronidazole and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug by another doctor. He was internalized in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery clinic and debridement was performed and empirical antibiotic was started. Bacteriological culture revealed Acinetobacter baumannii and R. planticola. The case was successful treated with tigecycline. Necrotizing fasciitis may be fulminant and invasive in the diabetic host. To our knowledge this was the first R. planticola case treated successfully treated with tigecycline. In addition, it emphasizes once again the importance of bacteriological sampling in the management of necrotizing fasciitis and complicated soft tissue infection.

Keywords

• Raoultella planticola
• necrotizing fasciitis
• tigecycline
• complicated skin and soft tissue infection