Ralstonia Pickettii

Ralstonia pickettii: An Emerging Opportunistic Pathogen

What is Ralstonia pickettii?

Ralstonia pickettii is a Gram-negative, non-fermenting, aerobic oxidase-positive bacillus bacterium. It is an emerging opportunistic pathogen that has been associated with a variety of infections, including pneumonia, bloodstream infections, and urinary tract infections.

Ralstonia pickettii and Cystic Fibrosis

Ralstonia pickettii is often associated with cystic fibrosis (CF). Studies have found that R. pickettii is the most common non-fermenting Gram-negative bacterium isolated from CF patients. It is believed that R. pickettii colonizes the respiratory tract of CF patients and can cause persistent infections.

Ralstonia pickettii and Healthcare-Associated Infections

Ralstonia pickettii can also cause healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in non-CF patients. HAIs are infections that are acquired in a healthcare setting, such as a hospital or long-term care facility. R. pickettii has been associated with a variety of HAIs, including pneumonia, bloodstream infections, and urinary tract infections.

Treatment of Ralstonia pickettii Infections

The treatment of Ralstonia pickettii infections can be challenging. This is because R. pickettii is often resistant to multiple antibiotics. The antibiotic susceptibility of R. pickettii can vary depending on the strain.