DOES AMMONIA PRODUCTION BY KLEBSIELLA CONTRIBUTE TO PATHOGENESIS

High ammonia levels in mammalian tissues, especially blood (as well as in urine), are toxic, causing severe metabolic disorders. The underly ing pathogenic principles are for the most part poorly understood. In this review we discuss 1) possible mechanisms of ammonia toxicity, 2) general mechanisms of bacterial ammonia production and 3) Klebsiella v irulence. Special reference is made to possible effects of nitrogen fi xation, ureolysis, proteolysis and amino acid ammonification.