Introduction:
Bacterial bloodstream infections (BSI) account for approximately 20 –
30% of all febrile neutropenic episodes in adults with malignancy. (1)
There has been a shift in aetiology of BSI from Gram-positive to
Gram-negative organisms depending on the geographic area. (2) In cancer
patients, the Peripherally Inserted Central Venous Catheter Related
Bloodstream Infection (PICCR-BSI) incidence rate is 2.6 per 1000
catheter days, 78% of which are mainly caused by Gram-negative bacteria
and 43% are caused by Gram-positive bacteria. (3) Raoultella planticola
(R. planticola) is a gram-negative, aerobic, nonmotile bacterium that
can be found in soil and water. Urine, faeces, and sputum of 9 – 18%
of humans have R. planticola colonization. Although both immunocompetent
and immunocompromised persons can develop R. planticola bacteraemia,
82.4% of patients are immunocompromised. (4) There have been multiple
case reports of urinary tract infections and a few reports of
bacteraemia with R planticola as the cause.