Oligella Infections

The genus Oligella contains 2 species, Oligella urethralis and Oligella ureolytica.

O. urethralis is a commensal of the genitourinary tract, and most clinical isolates are from the urine, predominantly from men. Although symptomatic infections are rare, bacteremia Bacteremia Bacteremia is the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream. It can occur spontaneously, during certain tissue infections, with use of indwelling genitourinary or IV catheters, or after dental... read more , septic arthritis Acute Infectious Arthritis Acute infectious (septic) arthritis is a joint infection that evolves over hours or days. The infection resides in synovial or periarticular tissues and is usually bacterial—in younger adults... read more that mimics gonococcal arthritis, and peritonitis Peritonitis Abdominal pain is common and often inconsequential. Acute and severe abdominal pain, however, is almost always a symptom of intra-abdominal disease. It may be the sole indicator of the need... read more in patients who need chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis have been reported.

O. ureolytica also occurs primarily in the urine, usually from patients with long-term urinary catheters or other urinary drainage systems. These patients have a propensity to develop urinary stones, possibly because the organism hydrolyzes urea and alkalinizes the urine, leading to precipitation of phosphates. Bacteremia has occurred in a patient with obstructive uropathy.

Diagnosis of Oligella infections is by culture.

Because these organisms are rarely isolated, antimicrobial susceptibility data are limited; most are sensitive to beta-lactam antibiotics. However, a beta-lactamase–producing strain and strains resistant to ciprofloxacin have been identified.