I read with interest the article by Pope et al. on Klebsiella spp.-related pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) and the threat this organism poses for
emergency physicians in the West (
1
). By and large, clinicians in the West are still relatively unfamiliar with infections
caused by Klebsiella spp., including PLA. There are now increasing numbers of reports in the West (
2
,
3
,
4
). Literature on Klebsiella spp.-related PLA has originated mostly from the East, where clinicians are more familiar
with this infection. Klebsiella spp.-related sepsis typically occurs in patients with underlying disorders such as
diabetes mellitus or other immune-compromising disorders. In Klebsiella-related PLA, it is not uncommon for patients to have multiple abscesses. In addition,
metastatic infective foci are often reported (
5
,
6
). Delay in diagnosis and appropriate treatment can lead to poor outcomes.To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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References
- Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess: an emerging problem in North America.J Emerg Med. 2008 Nov 6; ([Epub ahead of print])
- Pyogenic liver abscess with a focus on Klebsiella pneumoniae as a primary pathogen: an emerging disease with unique clinical characteristics.Am J Gastroenterol. 2005; 100: 322-331
- Cryptogenic invasive Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess syndrome.Int J Infect Dis. 2007; 11 (Epub 2006 Feb 10): 16-22
- Pyogenic liver abscess caused by hypermucoviscous Klebsiella pneumoniae.Scand J Infect Dis. 2007; 39: 828-830
- Pyogenic liver abscess associated with septic pulmonary embolism.J Chin Med Assoc. 2008; 71: 442-447
- Septic metastatic lesions of pyogenic liver abscess.Arch Intern Med. 1991; 151: 1557-1559
- Melioidosis.Lancet. 2003; 361: 1715-1722
- Melioidosis outbreak after typhoon, southern Taiwan.Emerg Infect Dis. 2007; 13: 896-898
- Melioidosis: an emerging infection in Taiwan?.Emerg Infect Dis. 2001; 7: 428-433
Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 18, 2010
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
