Pathogens
Klebsiella spp.

Klebsiella spp.

Precautions

Standard Precautions

General Information

Culture

Lactose-fermenting, gram-negative bacterium of the Enterobacterales Order.

Widely distributed in the intestinal tracts of many species, as well as the environment. 

Infections are opportunistic. 

Antimicrobial resistance, particularly extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production and AmpC cephalosporinase production, is an increasing problem. Carbapenem resistance is a major concern in human medicine but is currently less of a problem in veterinary patients.

Various opportunistic infections, including urinary tract infections and wound infections.

Typically susceptible to

  • 3rd generation cephalosporins (but some species, such as K. aerogenes possess inducible AmpC cephalosporinase)
  • Aminoglycosides
  • Fluoroquinolones
  • Nitrofurantoin (cystitis only, but K. pneumoniae is not reliably susceptible)

Variable susceptibility to

  • Trimethoprim-sulfa
  • Tetracyclines
  • Fosfomycin

Resistant to ampicillin and other penicillins. Some species are resistant to 1st and 2nd generation cephalosporins.

ESBL-producing strains are resistant to penicillins and most cephalosporins. Beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations are typically ineffective clinically. Often, these strains are only susceptible to aminoglycosides and carbapenems.

Klebsiella oxytoca is typically susceptible to beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations. Other species are not likely to be susceptible.