1. Klebsiella is a genus of bacteria that includes many species of pathogenic organisms. Most commonly known as Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP), this bacterium causes urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, wound infections, septicemia, meningitis, endocarditis, and bacteremia.
2. Klebsiella pneumonia is a gram-negative rod shaped bacterium that is responsible for causing nosocomial infections. These infections occur in hospitals and nursing homes where patients have been exposed to antibiotics. Infections may result from contaminated medical equipment or from direct contact with infected individuals.
3. Klebsiella oxytoca is a nonpathogenic organism that is often associated with human gastrointestinal flora. It is found in the intestines of humans and animals.
4. Klebsiella ozaenae is a gram-negative, oxidase positive, catalase negative, motile, facultatively anaerobic, nonmotile, nonspore forming, rod-shaped bacterium. It is a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family. K. ozaenae was first isolated from the feces of a patient who had undergone a kidney transplant.
5. Klebsiella aerogenes is a gram-negative aerobic rod-shaped bacterium that is capable of fermenting glucose. It is a member in the Enterobacteriacea family. K. aerogenes is a commensal organism found in the intestinal tracts of humans and animals. It is not considered to be pathogenic.
6. Klebsiella terrigena is a gram-negative bacterium that is able to utilize various carbon compounds as its sole source of carbon and energy. It is a member within the Enterobacteriace family. K. terrigena is a normal inhabitant of the intestine of humans and animals. K. terrigenea is a cause of diarrhea in children.
7. Klebsiella michiganensis is a gram-negative coccobacillus that is a member of the family Enterobacteriaceae. It is a facultative anaerobe that is able to metabolize glucose. It is a normal inhabitant in the environment and is rarely pathogenic. K. michiganensis is the causative agent of soft rot disease in cucumbers.
8. Klebsiella quasipneumoniae is a gram-negative bacillus that is a facultative anerobe that is able to ferment glucose. It is a commensal bacterium that is normally present in the intestinal tracts of mammals. K. quasipneumonia is a rare cause of pneumonia in humans.
9. Klebsiella variicola is a gram-negative obligate anaerobe that is a member of Enterobacteriaceae and is a normal inhabitant within the intestinal tracts of humans. It is a facultatively anaerobic bacterium that is able metabolize glucose. K. variicola is a rare cause of infection in humans.
10. Klebsiella flavescens is a gram-negative facultative anaerobe bacterium that is a member ofEnterobacteriaceae. K. flavescens is a normal inhabitant found in the intestinal tracts and fecal matter of humans and animals. This bacterium is rarely pathogenic.
11. Klebsiella ornithinolytica is a gram-negative anaerobic bacterium. It is able to metabolize arginine and lysine. It is a member found in the intestinal tracts, feces, and urine of humans and animals.