Klebsiella spp

Learning Outcome
At the end of this lecture, student should be
able to:
1. Identify the species of Klebsiella according
to epidemiology, host range, transmission,
virulence and pathogenicity.
2. Identify the laboratory features of the
Klebsiella spp.
3. Identify the appropriate treatment and
antibiotic can be used to kill the Klebsiella
spp.

TOXONOMY
FAMILY : Enterobacteriaceae
GENUS : Klebsiella
SPECIES : Klebsiella pneumonia
Klebsiella oxytoca
Klebsiella
rhinoscleromatis
Klebsiella ozanae

K.pneumo
niae

K.oxyt
oca

Species

K.rhinoscelero
matis

K.ozan
ae

Epidemiology
Klebsiellaspp. occur worldwide,
particularly in tropical and
subtropical regions, and are
ubiquitous
K. pneumoniaeis most pathogenic to
humans among allKlebsiellaspp
Klebsiellaspp. are responsible for 16
to 43% of central nervous system
(CNS) infections and brain abscesses

Host range

Humans
Mammals
Aquatic animals
Reptiles
Birds
Insects
Plants

Transmission
Person-person
- skin contact with environmentally
contaminated surfaces and/or
objects
Faecal-oral route

Virulence factor
capsules or lipopolysaccharides
toxin

Antigens
O antigen (somatic)
M antigen (mucoid)
K antigen (capsule)

Pathogenicity

Nosocomial pneumonia
Septicaemia
Urinary tract infection (UTI)
Bacteremias
Hepatic infections
Central nervous system (CNS)
infections

Lab diagnosis
Specimen
Respiratory tract
- Nasopharyngeal samples
- Sputum
Urinary tract (UT)
- Urine
CSF
Blood

Morphology
Gram-negative
Non- motile
Usually encapsulated
Rod-shaped bacteria
Mucoid colonies
0.3 to 1.0 mm in width and 0.6 to 6.0
mm in length

Culture on media
- Mac Conkey agar : lactose fermenter
(pink colonies)
- XLD (Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate)
agar :
Yellow colony
- SS (Salmonella- Shigella) agar :
Growth
- EMB (Eosin Methylene Blue) : Purple
colony
- TCBS : No growth

-Blood Agar

Diameter 1-4mm
Large grey white colony
Alpha-hemolysis
Smooth margin
Mucoid colony
Distinctive odour

Mac Conkey

TCBS agar

EMB agar

Biochem test
produce lysine decarboxylase but not
ornithine decarboxylase
Basic /Biochemical tests

Result

Catalase

Negative

Oxidase

Negative

Motility

Negative

Capsule

Positive

Indole

Negative

MR

Negative

VP

Positive

Citrate

Positive

PD

Negative

Urease

Positive

TSI

A/A with gas, no H2S

VP

MR

Indole

Citrate

Motility

TSI

PD

AST
Produce beta lactamase
Susceptible

Resistance

-Ceftazidime
-Ceftriaxone
-Cefotaxime
-Piperacillin-tazobactam
-Imipeneum
-Gentamycin
-Amikacin
-Triethoprimsulfamethoxazole

-Penicillins
-Ampicillin
-Carbenicillin

Treatment
Antibiotic selection
- depends on the organ system
involved
Resistant to multiple antibiotics.
Aztreonam may be used in patients
who are allergic to beta-lactamase
antibiotics.

VIDEO

REFERENCES

Obiamiwe Umeh,2011.Klebsiella Infections Treatment & Management Retrieved on

15 December 2012 from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/219907-treatment

Obiamiwe Umeh,2011. Klebsiella Infections retrieved on 15 December 2012 on

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/219907-overview

Public Health Agency of Canada. Retrieved on 15 December 2012 from

Klebsiella spp
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/lab-bio/res/psds-ftss/klebsiella-eng.php

Warren Levinson, Review of Microbiology and Immunology. Mc Graw Hill

publication, eleventh edition. Pages; 131-136.

THANK YOU