Clinical Significance of Bacteremia Caused by Klebsiella Ornithinolytica

Jung Yoon Yoon, Jin Kyeong Park, Jung Youn Jo, In Seon Kim, Sung Shin Kwon, Hee Jung Choi, Mi-Ae Lee*

Copyright ⓒ 2008. Ewha Womans University School of Medicine. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Published Online: Jun 30, 2008

Abstract

Objectives

Klebsiella ornithinolytica is a very rare type of Klebsiella species isolated from human and environment and is currently reported to be the cause of bacteremia. However, there have been no data on the clinical implication of K. ornithinolytica bacteremia.

Materials and Methods

We have analyzed 9 cases of K. ornithinolytica bacteremia diagnosed at Ewha Womans Medical Center from 2003 to 2006. All available clinical and microbial data were analyzed.

Results

All 9 cases were community acquired. The causes of bacteremia were hepatobiliary disease(66.7%), Primary bacteremia(22.2%) and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis(11.1%). Underlying diseases were colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and hepatobiliary disease. In 44.4% patients, there were no underlying diseases. Acute renal failure and shock occurred in 33.3% patients. All of the isolated strain were resistant to ampicillin, and only 1 case was resistant to cephalothin, piperacillin/tazobactam.

Conclusion

K. ornithinolytica bacteremia is commonly community acquired, especially in patients with hepatobiliary disease. Higher mortality was associated with acute renal failure and shock.

Keywords: Klebsiella ornithinolytica; Bacteremia