Klebsiella brain abscess in adults

Background: We analyzed the clinical manifestations and therapeutic outcome s of Klebsiella brain abscesses. Patients and Methods: The clinical data of 15 patients with Klebsiella brai n abscesses, retrospectively collected over a 14-year period, were studied. Results: The 15 patients included 13 cases of Klebsiella pneumoniae infecti on and two cases of Klebsiella oxytoca, ALL but one case were community-acq uired infections. Locations of all of these abscesses were supratentorial. 12 cases involved a single abscess, and three involved multiple abscesses. Gas formation was also found in two cases (13%). Common predisposing factor s included metastatic spread, chronic otitis media and neurosurgical proced ures. Among these 15 patients, 11 were treated surgically and four received antibiotics alone, In total, 11 patients survived and four died, with an o verall mortality rate of 26.7%. Conclusion: The clinical presentations and therapeutic outcomes varied acco rding to the different Klebsiella species. While debilitating diseases were common in K. pneumoniae infections, they were not common in K. oxytoca inf ection. And while metastatic septic abscess is a well-known, devastating co mplication of K. pneumoniae septicemia, usually seen as a brain abscess wit h a gas-forming appearance, all of these K. oxytoca infections had both oto genic infections and more favorable outcomes.