Klebsiella pneumonia is a dangerous bacterial infection that can cause pneumonia, urinary tract and wound infections, and even bacteremia. It is often resistant to antibiotics and can be fatal for immunocompromised patients. Hospitals are working to combat the rise in hospital-acquired infections.
Klebsiella pneumonia is a type of bacterial pneumonia caused by infection with the bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae, a gram-negative bacterium that is typically carried in fecal matter and ingested through accidental aspiration or exposure to contaminated medical instruments. This bacterial infection is usually opportunistic, meaning it appears in patients who are already battling an existing medical problem or infection, and can be very dangerous for some patients.
When someone develops klebsiella pneumonia, they experience flu-like symptoms including pain, chills, and fever. Infected patients also develop cough, which produces a characteristic red gelatinous sputum that is indicative of Klebsiella infection. The bacteria can get quite aggressive, causing pus abscesses to develop in the lungs, and the lungs can also fill with fluid from the infection. The patient usually has significant difficulty breathing as the bacteria colonize the lungs.
For clinicians, Klebsiella pneumonia presents two challenges. The first is that in many cases the bacterium is resistant to antibiotics and it may take several courses of antibiotics to find a drug that effectively fights the bacterium. Cultivating the infection to test for antibiotic resistance can reduce the time spent testing unnecessary drugs, but it can also become expensive and time consuming. The second problem is that in case of an opportunistic infection, the strain on the body due to the underlying medical condition and pneumonia can be very great and the patient can experience serious complications which could lead to death.
The Klebsiella bacterium doesn’t just attack the lungs. It can also cause urinary tract and wound infections, especially in hospital settings, where immunocompromised patients may be at risk of exposure to the bacteria. Klebsiella infection can also lead to bacteremia, a condition in which bacteria are present in the blood.
Diabetics, alcoholics, and immunocompromised individuals are at increased risk of developing Klebsiella pneumonia. The condition can start out as bronchitis or a mild respiratory infection, which is why it’s important to get medical attention for such conditions before they turn into something more serious.
Because Klebsiella pneumonia often occurs in hospitalized patients, symptoms are usually recognized early, allowing health care providers to provide rapid intervention that can give the patient a better chance of survival. The rise in hospital-acquired infections is a serious concern worldwide, and many hospitals are developing new policies and techniques to combat this trend.
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