Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae )

Overview of Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae )

Klebsiella is a type of gram-negative bacteria that can cause infections in healthcare settings, including pneumoniae, bloodstream infections, wound or surgical site infections, and meningitis. Increasingly, Klebsiella bacteria have developed antibiotic resistance, most recently to the class of antibiotics known as carbapenems. When bacteria such as Klebsiella pneumoniae produce an enzyme known as a carbapenemase, they are referred to as KPC producing organisms or carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP). This is considered a threat to patient safety because carbapenem antibiotics often are the last line of defense against gram-negative infections that are resistant to other antibiotics.

General Information


Date last modified: March 17, 2009
Content source: 
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP)
National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases (NCPDCID)