Klebsiella oxytoca is a gram-negative bacteria that can cause life-threatening illness, especially in those with weakened immune systems. It is frequently spread in hospitals and nursing homes and can cause bacteraemia, urinary tract infections, and pneumonia. Multi-resistant strains are a growing concern.
Klebsiella oxytoca is a type of bacteria that is frequently spread in intensive care units or nursing homes. It is closely related to Klebsiella pneumonia. Both are gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria that cause similar types of disease. They are typically found in the intestinal tract, where they are part of the ecosystem of a healthy colon. However, the bacteria can spread to other parts of the body and cause life-threatening illness.
People who get infected with this bacterium are mainly those whose immune system is not working well. Such organisms are known as opportunistic pathogens. Many of these infections occur in patients who are hospitalized for some other reason, and the bacteria can spread easily on the hands of hospital workers. Especially susceptible people include those with illnesses such as alcoholism, diabetes and chronic bronchopulmonary disease. Other patients at risk are those who have undergone organ or stem cell transplants, or who have undergone general surgery.
Additional risk factors include use of a catheter or feeding tube, which can allow bacteria to enter the body and bypass its defense mechanisms. The widespread use of antibiotics in hospitals has led to the development of multi-resistant strains of Klebsiella which are highly virulent and spread rapidly. Medical professionals usually begin treatment immediately when an infection is suspected and generally culture the organism to determine the most effective antibiotics to use.
Neonatal units, or specialized wings for children, are becoming an area of particular interest for Klebsiella oxytoca. In the United States, it is among the top four disease-causing pathogens in these units. This is especially true for premature babies.
One systemic disease that can be caused by this strain of bacteria is bacteraemia, which is when the bacteria colonize the blood and spread throughout the body. It can lead to septic shock and be fatal. The bacterium is most widely known to cause urinary tract infections. Such infections can spread to the kidneys and lead to kidney failure. If the disease progresses to this stage, it can even be life-threatening.
Both species of this bacterium can live inside the nose without causing any symptoms. From there, they can be carried into the lungs. This can lead to very serious cases of pneumonia, which is the most common disease caused by these bacteria outside a hospital. A classic symptom of this type of pneumonia is expectoration of mucus known as currant jelly sputum because of its appearance: it is often thick and mixed with blood. Mortality with this condition is quite high due to a combination of the severity of the pneumonia and the poor health of the individuals who typically contract it.
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