Klebsiella oxytoca

Klebsiella oxytoca (pronounced: kleb-see-ell-uh oxy-toe-ka) is a species of Gram-negative bacteria in the Klebsiella genus, which is part of the Enterobacteriaceae family.

Etymology

The name Klebsiella oxytoca is derived from the German-Swiss pathologist Theodor Albrecht Edwin Klebs, who first identified the genus, and the Greek words 'oxy', meaning sharp, and 'tokos', meaning childbirth, referring to the bacterium's ability to rapidly produce offspring.

Description

Klebsiella oxytoca is a rod-shaped bacterium that is commonly found in the environment, particularly in soil and water, as well as in the human intestines, where it usually exists without causing disease. However, it can cause a variety of infections, particularly in individuals with weakened immune systems. These infections can include pneumonia, urinary tract infections, septicemia, and soft tissue infections.

Treatment

Treatment for Klebsiella oxytoca infections typically involves antibiotics, although the bacterium is known to be resistant to certain types of these drugs. Therefore, laboratory testing is often necessary to determine the most effective treatment.