Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-01T01:47:37.811Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Habitat Association of Klebsiella Species

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Susan T. Bagley*
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan
*
Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931

Abstract

The genus Klebsiella is seemingly ubiquitous in terms of its habitat associations. Klebsiella is a common opportunistic pathogen for humans and other animals, as well as being resident or transient flora (particularly in the gastrointestinal tract). Other habitats include sewage, drinking water, soils, surface waters, industrial effluents, and vegetation. Until recently, almost all these Klebsiella have been identified as one species, ie, K. pneumoniae. However, phenotypic and genotypic studies have shown that “K. pneumoniae” actually consists of at least four species, all with distinct characteristics and habitats. General habitat associations of Klebsiella species are as follows: K. pneumoniae—humans, animals, sewage, and polluted waters and soils; K. oxytoca—frequent association with most habitats; K. terrigena— unpolluted surface waters and soils, drinking water, and vegetation; K. planticola—sewage, polluted surface waters, soils, and vegetation; and K. ozaenae/K. rhinoscleromatis—infrequently detected (primarily with humans).

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1985

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Ørskov, I, Genus, VI: Klebsiella, in Buchanan, RE, Gibbon, NE (eds): Sergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, ed 8. Baltimore, The Williams and Wilkins Company, 1974, pp 321324.Google Scholar
2. Gavini, F, Leclerc, H, Lefebvre, B, et al: Etüde taxonomique d'entéro-bactéries appartenant on apparentées au genre Klebsiella . Ann Microbiol 1977; 128B:4559.Google ScholarPubMed
3. Naemura, LG, Bagley, ST, Seidler, RJ, et al: Numerical taxonomy of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated from clinical and nonclinical sources. Current Microbiology 1979; 2:175180.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4. Woodward, BW, Carter, M, Seidler, RJ: Most nonclinical Klebsiella strains are not K. pneumoniae . Current Microbiology 1979; 2:181185.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5. Arora, DR, Chugh, TD: Klebocin types of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from normal and diarrhoeal stool. Indian J Med Res 1981; 73:856859.Google Scholar
6. Chugh, EM Walia, SK, Sabharwal, U: Bacteriocin (Klebocin) sensitivity typing as an epidemiological marker of Klebsiella pneumoniae . Indian J Med Res 1980; 71:195202.Google ScholarPubMed
7. Cooke, EM, Pool, R, Brayson, JC, et al: Further studies on the sources of Klebsiella aerogenes in hospital patients. J Hyg 1979; 83:391395.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8. Petras, G, Bognar, S: Extrahospital and intrahospital factors predisposing to the spread and colonization in patients of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus and Klebsiella in an infectious hospital. Acta Microbiol Acad Sci Hung 1981; 28:381392.Google Scholar
9. Hart, CA, Gibson, MF: Comparative epidemiology of gentamicin-resistant enterobacteria: Persistence of carriage and infection. J Clin Pathol 1982; 35:452457.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10. Kurrie, E, Bhaduni, S, Krieger, D, et al: Risk factors for infections of the oropharynx and the respiratory tract in patients with acute leukemia. J Infect Dis 1981; 144:128136.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11. Cooke, EM, Edmondson, AS, Starky, W: The ability of strains of Klebsiella aerogenes to survive on hands. J Med Microbiol 1981; 14:443450.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12. Hart, CA, Gibson, MF, Buckles, AM: Variations in skin and environmental survival of hospital gentamicin-resistant enterobacteria. J Hyg 1981; 87:277285.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13. Larson, EL: Persistent carriage of gram-negative bacteria on hands. Am J Infect Control 1981;9:112119.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14. de Silva, MI, Rubin, SJ: Multiple biotypes of Klebsiella pneumoniae in single clinical specimens. J Clin Microbiol 1977; 5:6265.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15. Michel, MF, Priem, CC: Positive blood cultures in a university hospital in the Netherlands. Infection 1981; 9:283289.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16. Zhukouskii, IY, Kumshova, LA: Microflora in the sputum of pneumonia in oncological and nononcological patients. Lab Delo 1980; 0:172174.Google Scholar
17. Blanchette, EA, Rubin, SJ: Seroepidemiology of clinical isolates of Klebsiella in Connecticut. J Clin Microbiol 1980; 11:474478.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18. Gilmore, DS, Aeilts, GD, Alldis, BA, et al: Effects of bathing on Pseudomonas and Klebsiella colonization in patients with spinal cord injuries. J Clin Microbiol 1981; 14:404407.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19. Appelbaum, PC, Schick, SF, Kellogg, JA: Evaluation of the four-hour Micro-ID technique for direct identification of oxidase-negative, gram-negative rods from blood cultures. J Clin Microbiol 1980; 12:533537.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20. Landesman, SH, Cherubin, CE, Corrado, ML: Gram-negative bacillary meningitis: New therapy and changing concepts. Arch Intern Med 1982; 142:939940.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21. Laghi, M, Fabbri, M, Gunella, G: Microbiological problems in chronic broncho-pulmonary diseases: 2. Present bacterial peculiarities of relapsed chronic inflammation in inferior airways. Rivista di Patologia e Clinicia della Tubercolosi e di Pneumologia 1981; 52:491507.Google Scholar
22. King, RE, Hattingh, J: Histology of the venom gland of the puffadder (Bitis arietans). South African Journal of Zoology 1979; 14:216219.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
23. Klipstein, FA, Holdeman, LV, Corcino, JJ, et al: Enterotoxigenic intestinal bacteria in tropical sprue. Ann Intern Med 1973; 79:632641.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
24. Klipstein, FA, Short, HB, Engert, RL, et al: Contamination of the small intestine by enterotoxigenic coliform bacteria among the rural population of Haiti. Gastroenterology 1976; 70:10351041.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
25. Borderon, JC, Gold, F, Laugier, J: Enterobacteria of the neonate: Normal colonization and antibiotic-induced selection. Biol Neonate 1981; 39:17.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
26. McKee, KT Jr, Cotton, RB, Stratton, CW, et al: Nursery epidemic due to multiply-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae: Epidemiologic setting and impact in prenatal health care delivery. Infect Control 1982; 3:150156.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
27. Shimada, K, Noro, T, Inamatsu, T, et al: Bacteriology of acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis of the aged. J Clin Microbiol 1981; 14:522526.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
28. Taylor, SL, Guthertz, LS, Leatherwood, M, et al: Histamine production by Klebsiella pneumoniae and an incident of scromboid fish poisoning. Appi Environ Microbiol 1979; 37:274278.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
29. Yoshinaga, DH, Frank, HA: Histamine-producing bacteria in decomposing skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) . Appl Environ Microbiol 1982; 44:447452.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
30. Anderson, RL, Mackel, DC, Stoler, BS, et al: Carpeting in hospitals: An epidemiologic evaluation. J Clin Microbiol 1982; 15:408415.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
31. Edmondson, AS, Cooke, EM, Wilcock, APD et al: A comparison of the properties of Klebsiella strains isolated from different sources. J Med Microbiol 1980; 13:541550.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
32. Ke, NT, Milch, H: Klebsiella and Enterobacter strains derived from hospital infections. I. Correlation between species, phage type, and antibiotic sensitivity. Acta Microbiol Acad Sci Hung 1981; 28:6781.Google Scholar
33. Wright, C, Kominos, SD, Yee, KB: Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa received from vegetable salads. Appl Environ Microbiol 1976; 31:453456.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
34. Jeven, BJ, Gordin, S, Laufer, A: Significance of psychotrophic strains of Serratia liquetaciens in milk. Journal of Food Protection 1979; 42:938941.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
35. Stiles, ME, NG L-K: Biochemical characteristics and identification of Enterobacteriaceae isolated from meats. Appl Environ Microbiol 1981; 41:639645.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
36. Evans, TM, LeChevallier, MW, Waarvick, CE, et al: Coliform species recovered from untreated surface water and drinking water by the membrane filter, standard, and modified most-probable-number techniques. Appl Environ Microbiol 1981; 41:657663.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
37. Jiwa, SFH, Krovacek, K, Wadstrom, T: Enterotoxigenic bacteria in food and water from an Ethiopian community. Appl Environ Microbiol 1981; 41:10101019.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
38. Ridgway, HF, Olson, BH: Chlorine resistance patterns of bacteria from twodrinking water distribution systems . Appl Environ Microbiol 1982; 44:972987.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
39. Jarvis, WR, Munn, VP, Highsmith, AK, et al: The epidemiology of nosocomial Klebsiella pneumoniae infections. Infect Control 1985; 6:6874.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
40. Hokogi, E: Gangrenous mastitis in cows: 2. Bacteriological examination. Journal of the Japanese Veterinary Medicine Association 1980; 33:485489.Google Scholar
41. Slavchev, G, Gogov, J: Psychotrophic and coliform microflora on the udders of cows. Veterinaro Meditsinski Nauki 1980; 17:7074.Google Scholar
42. Fairchild, TP, MacArthur, BJ, Moore, JH, et al: Coliform counts in various bedding materials. J Dairy Sci 1982; 65:10291035.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
43. Rendos, JJ, Eberhart, RJ, Kesler, EM: Microbiol populations of teat ends of dairy cows and bedding materials. J Dairy Sci 1975; 58:14921500.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
44. Glickman, LT: Veterinary nosocomial (hospital-acquired) Klebsiella infections. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1981; 179:13891392.Google ScholarPubMed
45. Swiderski, M, Jedrezowski, A: Plasmid transmission in Klebsiella isolated from piglets. Medycyna Weterynaryjna 1980; 36:397399.Google Scholar
46. Fox, JG, Rohousky, MW: Meningitis caused by Klebsiella spp. in two rhesus monkeys. J Am Vet Med Assocs 1975; 167:634636.Google ScholarPubMed
47. Merkt, H, Klug, E, Bohm, KH, et al: Recent observations concerning Klebsiella infections in stallions. J Reprod Fertil 1975; 23(suppl):143145.Google Scholar
48. Jackson, NN, Wall, HG, Miller, CA, et al: Naturally acquired infections of Klebsiella pneumoniae in Wistar rats. Lab Anim 1980; 14:357361.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
49. Goldstein, EJC, Agyare, EO, Vagvolgyi, AE, et al: Aerobic bacterial oral flora of garter snakes. Development of normal flora and pathogenic potential for snakes and humans. J Clin Microbiol 1981; 14:954956.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
50. Fujinaga, Y, Taniyama, K: Successful management of iliac mycotic aneurysm secondary to Klebsiella endocarditis: A case. Jpn J Surg 1981; 11:100104.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
51. Bagley, ST: Incidence and habitat association of Klebsiella pianticela sp. nov., K. terrigena sp. nov., K. pneumoniae, and K. oxytoca. Abstracted, Annual Meeting, American Society for Microbiology, Atlanta, March 7-12, 1982; Q17:212.Google Scholar
52. Bell, JB, MacRae, WR, Elliott, GE: R factors in coliform-fecal coliform sewage flora of the prairies and Northwest Territories of Canada. Appl Environ Microbiol 1982; 42:204210.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
53. Hiraishi, A, Horie, S: Species composition and growth—Temperature characteristics of coliforms in relation to their sources. Journal of General and Applied Microbiology 1982; 28:139154.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
54. Dufour, AP, Cabelli, VJ: Characteristics of Klebsiella from textile finishing plant effluents . Journal of the Water Pollution Control Federation 1976; 48:872879.Google Scholar
55. Caplenas, NR, Kanarek, MS, Dufour, AP: Source and extent of Klebsiella pneumoniae in the paper industry. Appl Environ Microbiol 1981; 42:779785.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
56. Hendry, GS, Janhurst, S, Horsnell, G: Some effects of pulp and paper waste water on microbiological water quality of a river. Water Research 1982; 16:12911296.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
57. Niemalä, SI, Väätänen, P: Survival in lake water of Klebsiella pneumoniae discharged by a paper mill. Appl Environ Microbiol 1982; 44:264269.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
58. Staley, JT, Lehmicke, LG, Palmer, FE, et al: Impact of Mount St. Helen's eruption on bacteriology of lakes in the blast zone. Appl Environ Microbiol 1982; 43:664670.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
59. Austin, B, Hussong, M Weiner, RM, et al: Numerical taxonomy analysis of bacteria isolated from the completed “Most Probable Numbers” test for coliform bacilli. J Appl Bacteriol 1981; 51:101112.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
60. Lopez-Torres, AJ, Hazen, TC: Density, distribution and activity of Klebsiella pneumoniae in a tropical rainforest watershed. Abstracted, Annual Meeting, American Society for Microbiology, New Orleans, March 6-11, 1983; N88:238.Google Scholar
61. Niemi, M, Sibakov, M, Niemelä, S: Antibiotic resistance among different species of fecal coliforms isolated from water samples. Appl Environ Microbiol 1983; 47:7983.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
62. Martin, RS, Gates, WH, Tobin, RS, et al: Factors affecting coliform bacteria growth in distribution systems. American Water Association Journal 1982; 74:2427.Google Scholar
63. Seidler, RJ, Morrow, JE, Bagley, ST: Klebsiella in drinking water emanating from redwood tanks. Appl Environ Microbiol 1977; 33:893905.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
64. Cakmaki, ML, Evans, HJ, Seidler, RJ: Characteristics of a nitrogen-fixing Klebsiella oxytoca isolated from wheat roots. Plant and Soil 1981; 61:5364.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
65. Wright, SF, Weaver, RW: Enumeration and identification of nitrogen-fixing bacteria from Forage grass roots. Appl Environ Microbiol 1981; 42:97101.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
66. Sengupta, B, Nandi, AS, Samanta, RK, et al: Nitrogen fixation in the phyllosphere of tropical plants: Occurrence of phyllosphere nitrogen-fixing micro-organisms in Eastern India and their utility for the growth and nitrogen nutrition of host plants. Annals of Botany 1981; 48:705716.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
67. Zuberer, DA: Nitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) associated with Duckweed Chemmaceae mats. Appl Environ Microbiol 1982; 43:823828.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
68. Bagley, ST, Seidler, RJ, Talbot, HW Jr, et al: Isolation of Klebsiella from within living wood. Appl Environ Microbiol 1978; 36:178185.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
69. Gardner, JM, Feldman, AW, Zablotowicz, RM: Identity and behavior of xylem-residing bacteria in rough lemon roots of Florida citrus trees. Appl Environ Microbiol 1982; 43:13351342.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
70. Schink, B, Ward, JC, Zeikus, JG: Microbiology of wetwood: Role of anaerobic bacterial populations in living trees. J Gen Microbiol 1981; 123:313322.Google Scholar
71. Rennie, RJ: Dinitrogen-fixing bacteria: Computer-assisted identification of soil isolates. Can J Microbiol 1980; 11:12751283.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
72. Haahtela, K, Kari, K, Sundman, V: Nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction) of root-associated, cold-climate Azospirillum, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas species during growth on various carbon sources and at various partial pressures of oxygen. Appl Environ Microbiol 1983; 45:563570.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
73. Smith, GW, Hayasaka, SS: Nitrogenase activity assisted with Halodule wrightii roots. Appl Environ Microbiol 1982; 43:12441248.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
74. Suslow, TV, Schroth, MN: Role of deleterious rhizobacteria as minor pathogens in reducing crop growth. Phytopathology 1982; 72:111115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
75. Miller, PD, Ericson, KE, Marsh, PB: Bacteria on closed-boll and commercially harvested cotton. Appl Environ Microbiol 1982; 44:355362.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
76. Brown, C, Seidler, RJ: Potential pathogens in the environment: Klebsiella pneumoniae, a taxonomic and ecological enigma. Appl Environ Microbiol 1973; 25:900904.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
77. American Public Health Association: Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Waste water, ed 15. New York, American Public Health Association, Inc., 1980, pp 747925.Google Scholar
78. Bagley, ST, Seidler, RJ: Significance of fecal coliform positive Klebsiella . Appl Environ Microbiol 1977; 33:11411148.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
79. Cowan, ST: Cowan and Steel's Manual for the Identification of Medical Bacteria, ed 2. London, Cambridge University Press, 1974, pp 106112.Google Scholar
80. Bascomb, S, Lapage, SP, Wilcox, WR, et al: Numerical classification of the tribe Klebsiellaeae. J Gen Microbiol 1971; 66:279295.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
81. Cowan, ST, Steel, KJ, Shaw, C: A classification of the Klebsiella group. J Gen Microbiol 1960; 23:601612.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
82. Edwards, PR, Ewing, WH: Identification of Enterobacteriaceae, ed 3. Minneapolis, Burgess Publishing Co., 1972, pp 290293.Google Scholar
83. Knittel, MD: Occurrence of Klebsiella pneumoniae in surface waters. Appl Environ Microbiol 1975; 29:595597.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
84. Mausen, JM, Spindler, JA, Blosser, RO: Characterization oí Klebsiella isolates from natural receiving waters and comparison with human isolates. Appl Microbiol 1974; 28:672678.Google Scholar
85. Ptak, DJ, Ginsburg, W, Wiley, BF: Identification and incidence of Klebsiella in chlorinated water supplies. American Water Works Association Journal 1973; 65:604608.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
86. Duncan, DW, Razzell, WE: Klebsiella biotypes among coliforms isolated from forest environments and farm produce. Appl Microbiol 1972; 24:933938.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
87. Seidler, RJ, Knittel, MD, Brown, C: Potential pathogens in the environment: Cultural reactions and nucleic acid studies on Klebsiella pneumoniae from clinical and environmental sources. Appl Microbiol 1975; 29:819–215.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
88. Izard, D, Ferragut, C, Gavini, F, et al: Klebsiella terrigena, a new species from soil and water. International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology 1981; 31:116127.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
89. Bagley, ST, Seidler, RJ, Brenner, DJ: Klebsiella pianticela sp. nov.: A new species of Enterobacteriaceae found primarily in nonclinical environments. Current Microbiology 1981; 6:105109.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
90. Ferragut, C, Izard, D, Gavini, F, et al: Klebsiella trevisanii: A new species from water and soil. International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology 1983; 33:133142.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
91. Liomba, NG, Heh, MSR: Rhinoscleroma in Malawi and eastern Zaire. J Trop Med Hyg 1980; 83:187190.Google ScholarPubMed
92. Murray, KA, Clements, BH, Keas, SE: Klebsiella ozaenae septicemia associated with Hansen's disease. J Clin Microbiol 1981; 14:703705.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
93. Biamon, EJ, Hazon, TC: Survival and distribution of Aeromonas hydrophila in near-shore coastal waters of Puerto Rico receiving rum distillary effluent. Water Research 1983; 17:319326.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
94. Rubin, SJ: Klebsiella marker systems. Infect Control 1985; 6:5963.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed