Severe Pansinusitis Due to Raoultella Ornithinolytica

Abstract

Raoultella ornithinolytica is a gram-negative aerobic bacterium typically found in plants, soil and water. Reports of Raoultella ornithinolytica causing infections in humans, especially in the head and neck, are rare. Herein we report a case of a woman with severe septal deviation, chronic headaches and facial pain who was revealed to have Raoultella ornithinolytica pansinusitis incidentally noted during an endoscopic septoplasty. Raoultella ornithinolytica was isolated from cultures of the diffuse purulent drainage found in her maxillary and ethmoid sinuses. This case indicates that while a rare cause of head and neck infection in humans, Raoultella ornithinolytica can be found as the causative pathogen in severe sinusitis.