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Klebsiella , Enterobacter, and Serratia are closely related normal intestinal flora that rarely cause disease in normal hosts.

Infections with Klebsiella , Enterobacter, and Serratia are usually hospital-acquired and occur mainly in patients with diminished resistance. Usually, Klebsiella , Enterobacter, and Serratia cause infections in the respiratory or urinary tract that present as pneumonia, cystitis, or pyelitis and may progress to lung abscess, empyema, and septicemia. Klebsiella pneumonia, a rare and severe disease with dark brown or red currant–jelly sputum, lung abscess formation, and empyema, is most common in diabetics and alcoholics. Serratia , particularly S. marcescens, has greater affinity for the urinary tract. Enterobacter can cause otitis media, cellulitis, and neonatal sepsis.

Treatment is with 3rd-generation cephalosporins, cefepime Some Trade Names
MAXIPIME
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, carbapenems, fluoroquinolones, piperacillin-tazobactam Some Trade Names

, or aminoglycosides. However, because some isolates are resistant to multiple antibiotics, sensitivity studies are essential. Enterobacter strains are prone to develop resistance to cephalosporins during treatment.

Last full review/revision November 2005

Content last modified November 2005