R. pickettii

Ralstonia pickettii is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped, soil bacterium. R. pickettii is a Betaproteobacteria species found in moist environments such as soils, rivers, and lakes. It has also been identified in biofilms in plastic water pipes. It is an oligotrophic organism, making it capable of surviving in areas with a very low concentration of nutrients. Several strains have shown an ability to survive in environments highly contaminated with metals. The ability to persist in these harsh conditions makes R. pickettii a candidate for bioremediation. Several hospitals have reported outbreaks-in particular, patients with cystic fibrosis and Crohn's disease have been shown to be infected with R. picketti. Of the 55 reported cases of such infection, the majority result from contaminated solutions such as water, saline, and sterile drugs. These solutions are usually contaminated when the product is manufactured, because R. pickettii can pass through 0.45 and 0.2 µm filters that are used to sterilize medicinal products. The majority of R. pickettii and R. insidiosa isolates show susceptibility to most of the antibiotics tested. The quinolones and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim are found the most effective.