Pleural empyema caused by Klebsiella oxytoca: A case series

Abstract

We report on 19 patients from Western Australia of pleural empyema with Klebsiella oxytoca, an organism never before reported in association with this condition. Median age was 65 years, 14/17 (83%) had been in hospital within 30 days prior to diagnosis, 12/18 (67%) had active cancer, 9/17 (53%) had been in intensive care and 7/17 (41%) had prior surgery. Nine patients died at the time of censure, five within 90 days of infection.

Year in review 2015: Lung cancer, pleural diseases, respiratory infections, bronchiectasis and tuberculosis, bronchoscopic intervention and imaging

“…Bacteriology differs between community‐acquired and hospital‐acquired pleural infections. Klebsiella oxytoca , which is primarily a pathogen in long‐term care facilities and hospital settings, has been reported for the first time as a causative agent in 19 patients with empyema . The cases were nosocomial in nearly 90%, polymicrobial in 70% and two‐thirds had a history of cancer.…”

“…The cases were nosocomial in nearly 90%, polymicrobial in 70% and two‐thirds had a history of cancer. All isolates were resistant to amoxicillin/ampicillin . Obtaining a definitive diagnosis of tuberculous pleuritis may be challenging due to the paucibacillary nature of the disease and the limitations of conventional microbiological tests.…”