Isolation of Raoultella ornithinolytica in a HIV positive patient with a lung abscess

Abstract

A 38 year old male HIV positive patient with a history of intravenous drug use presented with chest pains, cough, sputum and weight loss and radiology demonstrated the evolution of a right basal lung abscess. A lung biopsy sent for 16S rRNA analysis and sputum cultured about the same time demonstrated Raoultella ornithinolytica . No other causative pathogens were clearly identified. He gradually improved with a 4 week course of intravenous cefazolin. R. ornithinolytica is a rare, but recognised pathogen.