KLEBSIELLA-PNEUMONIAE PNEUMONIA

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an uncommon cause of community-acquired pneum onia except in alcoholics. Klebsiella may mimic pulmonary reactivation tuberculosis because it presents with hemoptysis and cavitating lesio ns. Klebsiella pneumoniae is a difficult infection to treat because of the organism's thick capsule. Klebsiella is best treated with third-a nd fourth-generation cephalosporins, quinolones, or carbapenems. Monot herapy is just as effective as a combination treatment in Klebsiella p neumoniae because newer agents are used. In the past, older agents wit h less anti-Klebsiella activity were needed for effective treatment. T he patient we present was initially thought to have pulmonary tubercul osis,and when found to have Klebsiella pneumoniae, the suggested treat ment was monotherapy with ceftriaxone. The patient was treated parente rally initially, and then was treated for 3 weeks with oral ofloxacin.