Four cases of Raoultella planticola conjunctivitis

This brief report of four cases of conjunctivitis caused by Raoultella planticola provides a description of possibly the first documented cases of this eye infection.

The laboratory database and medical records were used to trace all the R. planticola-positive conjunctival swabs obtained in our institution. Four cases were identified and available relevant information was obtained.

This organism causes a non-specific purulent conjunctivitis that seems to have a benign course and tends to be responsive to a topical fluoroquinolone.

The possibility of atypical organisms must be considered when managing infective conjunctivitis. Conjunctival swabs should be obtained and topical treatment switched when initial empirical therapy fails.