7 Epidemiological Typing of Klebsiella by Bacteriocins

Abstract

Publisher Summary Nosocomial infections with Klebsiella may be exogenous or endogenous. Nosocomial infections caused by Klebsiella may be analyzed by capsular serotyping, but at least one additional and independent epidemiological marker should be used to prove the identity of isolates from different patients or from patients' surroundings. Infections with bacteria from patient surroundings should be easier to prevent by strict control of aseptic and antiseptic procedures than those infections produced by the patient's own microflora. Classifying infections by the origin of the infectious agent requires careful typing of the isolates. These data indicate an acquisition of hospital flora (colonization) by the patient and the frequency of cross-infections. Preliminary results show a cross-infection rate with Klebsiella of patients in intensive care of about 35%. Markers easily available from routine diagnosis are of limited value for reliable epidemiological analysis of nosocomial infections because the characteristics used in the identification of isolates are not useful for biotyping and because antibiotics important for therapy are not identical with those needed for antibiotyping. Particular markers (e.g., bacteriocin typing or capsular serotyping) have to be used for precise epidemiological analysis of infections with Klebsiella . These methods may not be appropriate for use in routine laboratories and typing and the evaluation of the results for epidemiological analysis should, therefore, be performed in collaboration with reference laboratories.