First case report of Providencia Rettgeri neonatal sepsis

Providencia are gram negative motile rods and is a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family. It consists of five species, namely Providencia alcalifaciens, Providencia rustigianii, Providencia stuartii, Providencia rettgeri and Providencia heimbachae. These are opportunistic pathogens and leads to infections in immunocompromised host. Providencia rettgeri has been associated with the nosocomial infections of the urinary tract and infections of wounds, burns and blood. Providencia rettgeri is very rare cause of neonatal sepsis and we report first case of neonatal late onset sepsis secondary to it.

A term male infant presented on day 4 of post-natal life with the complaint of decreased appetite, fast respiration and lethargy. The clinical examination showed features of sepsis and shock with chest radiogram showing pneumonia. The infant was started on invasive ventilation, intravenous fluids, antibiotic and inotropes. The blood culture was suggestive of multi-drug resistant P. rettgeri. The antibiotics were changed according to organism antibiotic susceptibility pattern and infant gradually improved and was discharged successfully.

Providencia rettgeri is a very rare organism to cause neonatal sepsis. The management involves early diagnosis, treatment with appropriate antibiotics and finding the source of infection.