Klebsiella variicola in a 92-Year Old Patient: A Case Report

Goethals J and Janssens W

Department of Geriatrics, University Hospital Ghent, University of Ghent, Belgium

^*Correspondance to: Wim Janssens 

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Abstract:

Objective and Importance: In this article we present a case of the emerging pathogen Klebsiella variicola which is still not easy to identify and which is becoming more multidrug resistant. Clinical presentation: This case is about a 92-years old woman with abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Her body temperature was 38.5°C. Clinical examination revealed slight tenderness of the abdomen. Laboratory results showed inflammation. Chest radiography showed no abnormalities and an abdominal CT showed increased intra-abdominal fluid. Blood cultures revealed Klebsiella variicola, which was resistant to amoxicillin in this case. Favorable outcome was achieved by applying antibiotic treatment during 14 days. Discussion: Klebsiella variicola is structurally very similar to Klebsiella pneumoniae, so this bacillus is often misidentified and cases may be underreported. K. variicola is intrinsically resistant to amoxicillin and K. pneumoniae is often Multidrug Resistant (MDR). It is concerning that K. variicola and K. pneumoniae can exchange plasmids because consequently K. variicola can also become resistant to more types of antibiotics. Since K. variicola is also identified in the food chain, these multidrug resistant species can easily be distributed all over the world. Conclusion: MDR cases of Klebsiella variicola are increasingly reported worldwide. A standardized detection method is indispensable to correctly identify K. variicola and to choose the right antibiotics to prevent even more resistance to antibiotics.

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Cite the Article:

Goethals J, Janssens W. Klebsiella variicola in a 92-Year Old Patient: A Case Report. Clin Case Rep Int. 2021; 5: 1246.