Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae )

Questions and Answers

About Klebsiella infections

March 2009

What should I do if I think I have Klebsiella?

See your healthcare provider.

Top

What should I do if I have been diagnosed with Klebsiella?

Wash your hands as often as possible and follow the treatment prescribed by your healthcare provider. If your healthcare provider prescribed an antibiotic, take it exactly as the healthcare provider tells you. Complete the prescribed course even if you are feeling better. If treatment stops too soon, some bacteria may survive and re-infect you.

Top

How do I know if my Klebsiella infection is drug-resistant?

Your healthcare provider will order laboratory tests to determine if your Klebsiella infection is drug-resistant.

Top

Can my Klebsiella infection spread to my family members?

If your family members are healthy, they are at very low risk of acquiring a Klebsiella infection. Remember that Klebsiella bacteria are spread mostly by person-to-person contact and that hand hygiene is the best way to prevent the spread of germs.

Top

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