[Studies on the biological and clinical characteristics of acquired pneumonia caused by K. planticola].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the characteristics of biological, and clinical epidemiology of acquired pneumonia caused by a new type of Klebsiella, K. planticola.

METHOD: 9 strains of K. planticola were isolated from respiratory samples of patients, in vitro, biological and serologic identification were done, in vivo, infected animal models were also evaluated. Clinical epidemiological inquiries were also performed.

RESULT: 9 strains' biological features were different from those of the other Klebsiella. The 9 patients' ages were over forty and the primary disease was the third type tuberculosis of lungs. Using of antituberculosis drugs for long term as well as penicillins might be the predisposing factors, corticosteroids were used in 3 of the 9 patients, Combined infection with other pathogens in addition to K. planticola occurred in 8 patients, in 7/8, Candida albicans was identified. Drug sensitive tests show that all of them were resistant to penicillins and sensitive to the second and third generation cephalosporins.

CONCLUSION

The new strain of Klebsiella was studied and this information will be useful for diagnosing and treating K. platicola.