Comments - Klebsiella is an aerobic, enteric, Gram negative rod with a large polysaccharide capsule. The capsule results in large, slimy, mucoid colonies on blood or other selective agars. It is lactose positive, produces endotoxin and is a common nasocomial pathogen.
Resistance is plasmid mediated.
The 2 most common aerobic, Gram negative rods in stool are E. coli and Klebsiella. Common cause of nosocomial urinary tract infection, bacteremia and ventilator pneumonia. Transmission to neonates same as with E. coli resulting in early and late onset sepsis. Multiple drug resistant strains are common in hospitalized patients usually requiring a third generation cephalosporin and an aminoglycoside. Ciprofloxacin or imepenm are also effective.