Klebsiella:
A genus of bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae containing nonmotile, gram-negative, frequently encapsulated
rods that are arranged singly, in pairs, or in short chains. It includes some human pathogens.
Super bug kills dozens in hospitals across country
Published: 03.07.07, 09:53 / Israel News
"Between 400 to 500 people have been infected by the bug, and 30 to 40 percent of them have already died. However,
it is important to note that most of them were in a serious condition, and some were suffering from prior medical
conditions," said Prof. Yehuda Carmeli, the head of the epidemiology unit at the Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3373478,00.html
Deadly Superbugs in 2009
April 23, 2009 by Jenny Blake
In 2000, at Tisch Hospital in Brooklyn, NY, doctors were shocked to see Klebsiella,a deadly antibiotic resistant
superbug isolated from a single patient. The doctors realized that they were facing the first outbreak of Klebsiella ever
in the United States. Of the 34 patients infected, half died. (The New Yorker, 8/11/2008, Jerome Groupman) The
outbreak eventually ended, but only after extreme decontamination efforts on the part of hospital staff. This superbug
is still being seen and treated here in the U.S. in 2009.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1657995/deadly_superbugs_in_2009.html
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/KLEBSIELLA
pneumonia.
1982, Approximately 4.2% of 4,000 Maryland-Virginia raw milk tanker samples developed ropiness when incubated at
10°C. Of the 56 bacterial isolates 30 were identified by species. Klebsiella oxytoca and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were
isolated most frequently. Other ropy isolates were identified as Pseudomonas spp., Chromobacterium,
Flavobacterium multivorum, presumptive gersinia pestis, Enterobacter agglomerans, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and
Pasteurella-Actinobacter spp. Six of the Klebsiella oxytoca isolates were mesophilic (optimum temperatures of 32.0 to
37.8°C) ~vith two isolates having psychrotrophic tendencies (optimum temperature of 26.8°C). All Pseudomonas
aeruginosa isolates appeared to be psychrotrophic in their temperature requirements (optimum temperatures of 23.0
to 31.0°C).
http://jds.fass.org/cgi/reprint/66/9/1825.pdf
1990, An unusual food-borne outbreak of gastroenteritis associated with contaminated turkey occurred at a catered
company meal. The average incubation period was 10 h, and the predominant symptoms were watery diarrhea and
cramps. Vomiting did not occur. Initial epidemiological features and cultures from turkey and feces of infected patients
suggested that the causative agent was Clostridium perfringens, but Klebsiella pneumoniae of capsular type K15 was
also isolated in large numbers from both the turkey and feces of the same patients. Plasmid analysis and enterotoxin
results supported the role of K. pneumoniae as the causative agent in this outbreak. Organisms other than commonly
identified pathogens should not be ignored if present in high concentrations in both food and feces of infected persons.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2179254?dopt=Abstract
1998, For the first time, we report Klebsiella pneumoniae as an enteroinvasive food-borne pathogen transmitted from a
hamburger. A 28-year-old previously healthy African-American male ingested a portion of a hamburger from a fast food
chain. Symptoms of gastroenteritis rapidly deteriorated to multiorgan failure. Blood and hamburger cultures grew
Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Since Klebsiella had not previously been reported as enteroinvasive, the
isolates were compared. Full biochemical profiles, antimicrobial sensitivity, plasmid profile, and toxin assay by DNA
hybridization probe were completely concordant. The patient survived the episode of food-borne sepsis.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9448190
Klebsiella: Klebsiella's pathogenicity can be attributed to its production of a heat-stable enterotoxin. K. pneumoniae
is second only to E. coli as a urinary tract pathogen. Klebsiella infections are encountered far more often now than in
the past. This is probably due to the bacterium's antibiotic resistance properties. Klebsiella species may contain
resistance plasmids (R-plasmids) which confer resistance to such antibiotics as ampicillin and carbenicillin. To make
matters worse, the R-plasmids can be transferred to other enteric bacteria not necessarily of the same species.
IngentaConnect Four cases of necrotizing fasciitis caused by ...Klebsiella necrotizing fasciitis can occur via direct
inoculation, local trauma or, ... Necrotizing fasciitis due to Klebsiella spp. is unique in that it is ...
www.ingentaconnect.com/.../10096/2004/00000023/00000005/art00009;jsessionid=1dwvb019yx1p3.alice?format=print
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[PDF] Four cases of necrotizing fasciitis caused by Klebsiella speciesFile Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat
tions of disseminated Klebsiella infection, necrotizing ..... which the term “Klebsiella necrotizing fasciitis” appeared. in
the abstract were retrieved. ...
www.springerlink.com/index/W3QMP64XC5DTPCR6.pdf - Similar pages
Klebsiella pneumoniae is a common hospital-acquired infectious agent, causing urinary tract and abdominal infections
and hospital infected pneumonia. Klebsiella pneumoniae can be found in a person’s mouth, skin, and intestines.
Klebsiella is second to E. coli as the cause of urinary tract infections. The reported number of cases is up
approximately 50% in the last five years and there is a 66% mortality rate in untreated patients.
http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/klebsiella_pneumoniae