A Detailed Overview of the Klebsiella Oxytoca Bacteria
The Klebsiella Oxytoca is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium that is closely related to K. pneumoniae but differs in that it is indole-positive, and it also has slightly different growth characteristics in that it can grow on melezitose but not on 3-hydroxybutyrate.
Klebsiella Oxytoca was named Bacillus oxytocus perniciosus after being isolated from sour milk in 1886.
They are found naturally in the digestive tract, mouth, and nose, and they are also considered beneficial gut bacteria in your intestines. These bacteria, however, can cause serious infections outside of the gut.
KO is commonly found in healthcare settings. Nursing homes and intensive care units are examples of these settings.
KO can result in serious infections like urinary tract infections (UTIs), wound infections, and other complications. The symptoms you experience are determined by the type of bacteria and where it infects your body.
Diseases Caused by Klebsiella Oxytoca
Klebsiella are opportunistic pathogens that cause serious infections in hospitals. This organism is responsible for;
1. Pneumonia
2. Urinary tract infection
3. Soft tissue infection
4. Septicaemia, which often leads to septic shock.
Symptoms of Klebsiella Oxytoca Infections
The signs and symptoms of Klebsiella infection vary depending on where the infection occurs. In the case of Klebsiella oxytoca;
Before an infection can begin, the bacteria must enter your body. Wounds, catheters, and intravenous (IV) line sites are all common entry points for KO bacteria.
Once the bacteria are inside, they can cause an infection.
The symptoms of a KO infection will vary depending on the bacteria and the location in your body where it entered.
Bacteria that enters your airways, for example, may cause a lung infection. The infection could be similar to pneumonia. Among the symptoms are:
1. Flu-like symptoms
2. Chills
3. High fever
4. Shortness of breath or shallow breathing
5. Cough with mucus
Other symptoms of KO infection might include:
6. Discharge from a wound
7. Sudden increase in inflammation around a wound
8. Pain when urinating
9. Lower abdominal pain
10. Vomiting
Causes of Klebsiella Oxytoca Infections
Klebsiella bacteria are mostly passed from person to person. They are more commonly spread through environmental contamination.
The bacteria, like other healthcare-associated infections, can be spread in a health care setting by contaminated hands of health care workers.
These bacteria are typically picked up in healthcare-related environments. These options include:
1. Nursing homes
2. Hospitals
3. Intensive care units
To become ill from these bacteria, you must be directly exposed to them.
The bacteria can be passed from person to person. It can even be obtained from a contaminated environment. The Klebsiella oxytoca virus does not spread through the air.
Prevention
Healthcare workers must take specific infection control precautions to avoid spreading infections between patients.
These precautions may include strict hand hygiene and the use of gowns and gloves when entering rooms containing klebsiella-related infections.
To prevent the spread of it, healthcare facilities must also follow proper cleaning procedures. To prevent device-associated infections, wound infections, and SSIs, specific protocols must be followed.
A breach in these protocols could result in Klebsiella or other healthcare pathogen infections.
Treatment for Klebsiella Oxytoca Infections
Treatment for a KO infection is usually simple. However, the effectiveness of the treatment and the likelihood of some complications are dependent on the location of the infection and the individual’s overall health.
Klebsiella bacteria are mostly passed from person to person. They are more commonly spread through environmental contamination.
Antibiotics are used to treat KO, just as they are for any other infection.
Some KO strains are antibiotic-resistant. This means that the most commonly used antibiotics will be ineffective against the bacteria.
Klebsiella oxytoca, is frequently resistant to antibiotics such as fluoroquinolones, erythromycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and others.
If the KO infection is not drug-resistant, it can be successfully treated with antibiotics. The majority of people will recover in 2 to 4 weeks.
If the infection is drug-resistant, more tests will be required to find a drug that will kill the bacteria. People with weakened immune systems may also experience a more difficult and prolonged recovery.
Your will be asked to carry out specialized lab tests. These tests assist your doctor in determining which antibiotics or treatments may be used to help destroy the bacteria and eliminate the infection.
Make sure to take the antibiotics exactly as prescribed by a doctor. Do not stop taking them before you have finished the entire dose.
If you do not take all the medication, you risk reinfection or not completely eliminating the infection.
Good hygiene practices, such as frequent hand-washing and avoiding sick people, will help to speed up recovery and reduce the likelihood of infection in the first place.
Taking medication as directed and completing the entire course of medication will also increase a person’s chances of full recovery.
What antibiotic is effective against Klebsiella oxytoca?
Ceftriaxone. K.O and other Klebsiella infections are effectively treated with ceftriaxone. It is a third-generation cephalosporin with broad-spectrum, gram-negative activity and improved resistance.
