Community-acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae central nervous system infections in adults in Singapore

• Published in: European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases Vol. 22; no. 8; pp. 486 - 488
• Main Authors: HABIB, A. G, TAMBYAH, P. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.08.2003; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibacterial agents; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Bacteria; Biological and medical sciences; Central nervous system; Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections - drug therapy; Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections - epidemiology; Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections - microbiology; Community-Acquired Infections - drug therapy; Community-Acquired Infections - epidemiology; Community-Acquired Infections - microbiology; Drug Therapy, Combination - therapeutic use; Female; Food handling; Humans; Incidence; Klebsiella Infections - diagnosis; Klebsiella Infections - drug therapy; Klebsiella Infections - epidemiology; Klebsiella pneumoniae - drug effects; Klebsiella pneumoniae - isolation & purification; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nervous system; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Prognosis; Risk Assessment; Sampling Studies; Singapore - epidemiology; Treatment Outcome; Asia; Singapore; Human; Nervous system diseases; Prognosis; Abscess; Central nervous system; Epidemiology; Cephalosporin derivatives; Community acquired infection; Treatment; Surgery; Central nervous system disease; Lead; Bacteria; Adult; Meningitis; Antibacterial agent; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Enterobacteriaceae; Food
• ISSN: 0934-9723; 1435-4373
• DOI: 10.1007/s10096-003-0963-x

A series of successfully managed community-acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae infections of the central nervous system (CNS) that occurred in six non-neurosurgical adult patients in Singapore over a 2-year period is reported. Three patients had abscesses that were drained, and three had meningitis; all were treated with third-generation cephalosporins. All six patients were middle-aged adults, three of whom were food handlers. Clinicians should be aware of Klebsiella pneumoniae as an important CNS pathogen, particularly in East Asia. Although third-generation cephalosporins have had a major impact on the outcome of Klebsiella pneumoniae CNS infections, the emergence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing strains may lead to their reduced efficacy in this clinical setting.