3.28 Klebsiella Pneumoniae

Microbiology review for the USMLE Step 1 Exam

• Klebsiella pneumoniae is a lactose-fermenting, gram-negative bacilli that causes pneumonia and is part of the normal GI flora in humans.
• It causes infection when introduced to the respiratory tract and is commonly found in hospitals, making it a common cause of nosocomial pneumonia.
• Risk factors for klebsiella pneumonia include alcoholism and diabetes.
• Symptoms of klebsiella pneumonia include cough, fever, pleuritic chest pain, and shortness of breath, as well as rust-colored "currant jelly" sputum and cavitary lesions in the lungs.
• Klebsiella can also cause urinary tract infections, especially in hospital settings.
• Treatment typically involves antibiotics, but resistance testing may be necessary due to the bug's high antibiotic resistance