Klebsiella Pneumonia Research Paper

Kristen Johns

BIOL 2164

Disease Report

10/22/15

Klebsiella Pneumoniae

Klebsiella pneumonia or also known as Friedlanders bacillus is a disease that is found in humans and animals. The genus is named after Edwin Klebs a 19th century German Microbiologist. Klebsiella begin in soil and the water on plants. K. pneumonia is found in the digestive and respiratory systems causing lobar pneumonia, meningitis, urinary tract infections, and would infections. Klebsiella is part of the family Enterobacteriaceae and belongs to the genus Klebsiella. This bacterium is nonmotile, rod-shaped, and gram-negative bacilli. K. pneumonia is facultative anaerobic meaning they can grow with or without oxygen. They do not form spores and are capable of forming capsules.

One of the most common places to catch the infection is in health care environments. Kelbsiella is a nosocomial pneumonia infection. Hospital staff has a high chance of becoming infected. Most People are at risk when the bacterium colonizes in the mouth, throat, and intestines. The bacteria do not spread through the air. According to Thomas C. Weiss, author of the article, “Klebsiella Pneumoniae: A Superbug Found in Health Care Environments claims”, “People who are predisposed to K. pneumonia include those who use catheters, endotracheal tubes, alcoholics, people with diabetes, congestive heart failure, seniors, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunosuppression, or other forms of debilitating diseases” (Weiss, 2012). These procedures allow easy access into the body. People that are infected are chronically ill, which is why Klebsiella has a high mortality rate (Disabled World). People usually die after 2-3 days of being infected. Healthy people usually do not get infected. Another way Klebsiella can be transmitted is by person-to-person contact. Symptoms of K. pneumonia are fever, cough with mucus, shortness of breath, and other flu like