Klebsiella

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name Klebsiella spp.
family Enterobacteriaceae
genus Klebsiella
Klebsiella pneumoniae-Endo.JPG
Klebsiella pneumoniae on Endo agar
Morphology G− rods
Relation to oxygen Facultative anaerobe
Cultivation Blood agar, Endo agar
Antigens Capsule antigens
Transmission Fecal-oral, contact, by air (respiratory droplets)[1]
Occurence Gastrointestinal and respiratory tract, soil, water
Diseases Urinary tract infections, pneumonia, sepsis, neonatal meningitis and sepsis
Diagnostics Cultivation
Therapy 2nd and 3rd generation cephalosporins, carbapenems, fluoroquinolones

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.[1][2][3]

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  1. BENEŠ, Jiří. Infekční lékařství. 1. vydání. Praha : Galén, c2009. s. 240-241. ISBN 978-80-7262-644-1.
  2. ↑ *VOTAVA, Miroslav. Lékařská mikrobiologie speciální. 1. vydání. Brno : Neptun, 2003. s. 67-68. ISBN 80-902896-6-5.
  3. ↑ BEDNÁŘ, Marek. Lékařská mikrobiologie :  bakteriologie, virologie, parazitologie. 1. vydání. Praha : Marvil, 1996. s. 265-266. ISBN 80-238-0297-6.
  1. a b BENEŠ, Jiří. Infekční lékařství. 1. vydání. Praha : Galén, c2009. s. 240-241. ISBN 978-80-7262-644-
  2. VOTAVA, Miroslav. Lékařská mikrobiologie speciální. 1. vydání. Brno : Neptun, 2003. s. 67-68. ISBN 80-902896-6-5.
  3. BEDNÁŘ, Marek. Lékařská mikrobiologie :  bakteriologie, virologie, parazitologie. 1. vydání. Praha : Marvil, 1996. s. 265-266. ISBN 80-238-0297-6.