Klebsiella pneumoniae(Microbiology) - Research Paper Example

It is also present in soil and around 30% of the species fix nitrogen under anaerobic conditions (Postgate, 1998). Research Background Klebsiella is becoming the topic of research as it is emerging as an impetrative pathogen in nosocomial infections. Klebsiella possess two different kinds of antigens one on its cell wall and other on its capsule. The O antigen is present as a cell wall component on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and possess 9 different kinds. The capsular antigen is known as K antigen and possess as many as 80 different kinds.

These antigens are responsible for the virulence of the organism (Podschun, 1998). Clinical implications These virulence factors are responsible for disease called pneumonia. Pneumonia is the disease of lungs and results in inflammation of lungs. This results in necrosis of cells. It then produces thick, blood filled mucous or sputum. The causal organism is Klebsiella pneumoniae. The organism gains access into the lower part of respiratory tract and inhabit there as an oropharyngeal microbial population (Todar).

If the immune system of the individual is compromised either due to poor nutrition or some condition of illness then the individual is likely to suffer with pneumonia. It is observed that Klebsiella pneumoniae affects individuals suffering from either diabetes, or display any kind of malignancy or witness liver disease or malfunction or if the individual is alcoholic. It is also reported that individuals with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD) or suffer from renal failure, they also become victim of Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Professional hazard in case of paper mill workers is also observed where personnel are likely to become soft targets for Klebsiella pneumoniae (Todar). Hospitalizations could also result in Klebsiella pneumoniae infestation and therefore the organism is becoming a source of nosocomial infections. Under these conditions, Klebsiella pneumoniae causes bronchopneumonia and also bronchitis. The patient may witness abscess of lungs, or cavitations in lungs, pus may get collected in the lung cavities resulting in empyema or pleural empyema, as a result of pneumonia, this are linked with parapneumonic effusions.

This is a three phase ailment encompassing (Pothula, 1994). a. exudative phase where accumulation of pus takes place. b. fibrinopurulent stage where lot of pus pockets are being generated. c. the organizing stage which causes entrapment of lung(s) (Pothula, 1994). Pleural adhesion may be generated as a result of all the implications causing elevation in death rate. Klebsiella also affects the urinary tract, causing UTI. It also disrupts the intestinal lining and hence causes diarrhea. It is capable of colonizing in the upper respiratory tract and causes upper respiratory tract infection.

It also causes infection of wounds, inflammation of gall bladder causing cholecystitis, as well as infection of bone and bone marrow leading to osteomyelitis. The most dreaded infection caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae is the inflammation of meninges leading to meningitis, it travels the blood stream leading to septicemia (Todar). The prevalence of Klebsiella pneumoniae in the invasive device or support equipments or catheters, not only contaminates the device but also position patients at an enhanced risk for Klebsiella infection.

Thus sepsis as well as septic shock enables the bacteria to gain entry into the blood (Todar). Research The implications of Klebsiella are so