(II) Gram Negative Rods - (3)*Klebsiella spp.

Question 1

Name 4 features shared by Klebsiella, Serratia, and Enterobacter

Answer 1

(1) Ferment lactose
(2) Cause Pneumonia/UTI
(3) Nosocomial infections
(4) ⇒ Often Multi-Drug resistant

(Serratia is a slow fermenter of lactose, so it may show up negative on MacConkey)

Question 2

Characterize (3) : Enterobacter

Answer 2

(1) Gram (-) rod
(2) Lactose fermenter
(3) Motile

Question 3

Characterize (4) : Serratia

Answer 3

(1) Gram (-) rod
(2) Lactose fermenter
(3) Motile
(4) Produces red pigment

Question 4

Characterize (4) : Klebsiella

Answer 4

(1) Gram (-) rod
(2) (+) Urease
(3) Lactose fermenter
(4) Capsule

(Capsule is responsible for the “current jelly” sputum)

Question 5

Name 3 major associations with Klebsiella

Answer 5

The 3 As:

(1) Alcoholics
(2) Abcesses
(2) Aspirations

Question 6

Name 2 distinctions between Klebsiella from Serratia and Enterobacter

Answer 6

Klebsiella is:

(1) Urease (+)
(2) Immotile

Question 7

Which bacteria is often confused with Tuberculosis on chest x-ray?

Answer 7

Klebsiella (abscess formation)

Question 8

Alcoholism and Diabetes Mellitus predisposes a person esp to … infection

Answer 8

Alcoholism and Diabetes Mellitus predisposes a person esp to Klebsiella(which microbe?) infection

Can also get vibrio vulnificus in alcoholism that damages liver:
“Food poisoning: self-limiting diarrhea, acute septicaemia in immunosuppressed with high fever, hypotension and multiple erythematous skin lesions which turn hemorrhagic, necrotic and ulcerating (elderly males with alcoholic liver damage particularly at risk)”

Question 9

Clinical Presentation of Klebsiella infection (IMPT!!)

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Answer 9

Clinical Presentation of Klebsiella infection (IMPT!!)

• UTI
• Friedlander’s pneumonia (severe form of community-acquired pneumonia with abscess formation) (RED CURRENT JELLY sputum)
• Community-acquired liver abscess
• Nosocomial infections (frequently multiresistant)