A First and Rare Case of Roultella ornithinolyrica in paediatric patients in Saudia Arabia: A Case Report

Abstract

Raoultella ornithinolytica is an emerging Gram-negative pathogen that is rarely reported in children. We describe a case of severe R. ornithinolytica infection in a 4-month-old male infant from Saudi Arabia who presented with rapidly progressive pneumonia complicated by recurrent bilateral pneumothoraces and respiratory failure requiring prolonged intensive care support. The organism was identified on microbiological culture and demonstrated susceptibility to multiple antimicrobial classes, including carbapenems. The patient showed gradual clinical improvement following targeted antimicrobial therapy and supportive management. This case highlights the potential for R. ornithinolytica to cause severe, life-threatening infection in infants without overt immunodeficiency and underscores the importance of early recognition, accurate microbiological identification, and appropriate antimicrobial therapy.