Klebsiella pneumonia

Last revised by Arlene Campos on 10 Jun 2024

Klebsiella pneumonia, also known as Friedländer pneumonia, refers to pneumonia resulting from an infection from the organism Klebsiella pneumoniae

There tends to be a higher prevalence in older patients with alcoholism and debilitated hospitalized patients 3.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is among the most common Gram-negative bacteria encountered by physicians worldwide and accounts for 0.5-5.0% of all cases of pneumonia 2. This organism can cause extensive pulmonary necrosis and frequent cavitation 1.

It is one of the causes that could be suspected when there is cavitatory pneumonia +/- a bulging fissure sign. Often there can be extensive lobar opacification with air bronchograms.

A helpful feature that may help to distinguish from pneumococcal pneumonia is that Klebsiella pneumonia develops cavitation in 30-50% of cases (in comparison, cavitation is rare in pneumococcal pneumonia). This occurs early and progresses quickly. Massive necrosis (pulmonary gangrene) is a recognized complication.

There can be variable features on chest HRCT which can also depend on current other organisms. The spectrum includes

Necrotizing pneumonia can occur as a complication 6.

The organism Klebsiella pneumoniae was first described by German microbiologist Carl Friedländer (1847-1887) in 1882, in a series of patients with Klebsiella pneumonia 7,8.

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