Klebsiella

The Klebsiella species are encapsulated gram-negative rods''. ''Bacteria of this genus are part of the microbial flora of the GIT and respiratory system. In the external environment, they are found in soil and water. These are facultatively pathogenic bacteria. The most important species is Klebsiella pneumoniae and other members include Klebsiella oxytoca.

Klebsiellas grow on blood agar as white colonies, allowing differentiation from E. coli, when cultivated on Endo agar: they look like strawberry ice cream. Encapsulating antigens are a major virulence factor. Bacteria of this genus most often cause urinary tract infections and pneumonias, they can also causesepsis, 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 (respiratory droplets).

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

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