Klebsiella

The Klebsiella species belongs to the encapsulated gram-negative fixed rods''. ''Bacteria of this species are part of the microbial flora GIT and respiratory system, in the external environment we are found in soil and water. These are conditionally pathogenic bacteria. The most important species is  Klebsiella pneumoniae, others include Klebsiella oxytoca.

Klebsiellas grow on blood agar in white colonies, allowing differentiation from E. coli, when cultivated on Endo's soil, they look like strawberry ice cream. Encapsulating antigens are a factor in virulence. Bacteria of this genus most often cause urinary tract infections and pneumonias, they can also be used in sepsis, especially in ICU patients as nosocomial infections. Klebsiella pneumonias are mostly lobar, often occurring in debilitated people and alcoholics. In neonates, they cause purulent meningitis and sepsis. Transmission is fecal-oral, by contact and by air.

2nd and 3rd generation cephalosporins are used in therapy, urinary tract infections are treated with nitrofurantoin. Nosocomial strains are sensitive to carbapenems.[1][2][3]

Related Articles

 * Pneumonia