Community-acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia: global differences in clinical patterns

Emerg Infect Dis. 2002 Feb;8(2):160-6. doi: 10.3201/eid0802.010025.

Abstract

We initiated a worldwide collaborative study, including 455 episodes of bacteremia, to elucidate the clinical patterns of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Historically, community-acquired pneumonia has been consistently associated with K. pneumoniae. Only four cases of community-acquired bacteremic K. pneumoniae pneumonia were seen in the 2-year study period in the United States, Argentina, Europe, or Australia; none were in alcoholics. In contrast, 53 cases of bacteremic K. pneumoniae pneumonia were observed in South Africa and Taiwan, where an association with alcoholism persisted (p=0.007). Twenty-five cases of a distinctive syndrome consisting of K. pneumoniae bacteremia in conjunction with community-acquired liver abscess, meningitis, or endophthalmitis were observed. A distinctive form of K. pneumoniae infection, often causing liver abscess, was identified, almost exclusively in Taiwan.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Bacteremia / diagnosis*
  • Bacteremia / microbiology*
  • Community-Acquired Infections / diagnosis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Global Health
  • Humans
  • Klebsiella Infections / diagnosis*
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae / isolation & purification*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / diagnosis*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Syndrome