Raoultella Ornithinolytica in a Healthy, Young Person: Rapidly Progressive Sinusitis with Orbital and Intracranial Involvement

Jihyeon Baek; Marn Joon Park; Ha Young Lee; Sungmo Kang

doi:10.12890/2023_003987

Raoultella Ornithinolytica in a Healthy, Young Person: Rapidly Progressive Sinusitis with Orbital and Intracranial Involvement

Eur J Case Rep Intern Med. 2023 Sep 18;10(10):003987. doi: 10.12890/2023_003987. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Jihyeon Baek¹, Marn Joon Park², Ha Young Lee³, Sungmo Kang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, South Korea.
² Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, South Korea.
³ Department of Radiology, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, South Korea.
⁴ Department of Ophthalmology, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, South Korea.

Abstract

Raoultella ornithinolytica is an encapsulated, Gram-negative, nonmotile, rod belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family. Infections involving the gastrointestinal tract and the hepatopancreatobiliary system are most frequently reported, especially in immunocompromised patients. The authors present an unusual case of acute complicated sinusitis with orbital and intracranial involvement caused by R. ornithinolytica. The infection was rapidly progressive, even though the patient was a healthy, young person without any co-morbidities. The patient's condition improved after antibiotic treatment and multiple ophthalmic and sinus surgeries.

Learning points: Raoultella ornithinolytica can cause rapidly progressive infections, even in immunocompetent young individuals.Raoultella ornithinolytica identified in sinusitis can be a true pathogen rather than an innocent bystander.

Keywords: Raoultella ornithinolytica; abscess; maxillary sinusitis; meningitis; orbital cellulitis.