Klebsiella pneumoniae is a type of bacteria that causes pneumonia in hospital patients. This gram-negative bacterium, which refers to how it appears under the microscope, can cause significant morbidity. People who are at risk for Klebsiella pneumoniae are typically very sick patients in the hospital. Patients who are on ventilators, have intravenous catheters and/or have been on long-term antibiotics are at risk for Klebsiella pneumoniae. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, healthy people do not get Klebsiella pneumonia. Treatment consists of antibiotics that kill gram negative bacteria.
Third Generation Cephalosporins
Third generation cephalosporins refer to the continued development of the cephalosporin antibiotic. First generation cephalosporins did not have any activity against gram-negative bacteria. As the generations developed, their gram-negative sensitivity increased. Third generation cephalosporins, such as ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, and cefotetan all have good coverage against gram-negative bacteria such as klebsiella. Because cephalosporins are distantly related to penicillin, a patient who is allergic to penicillin may be allergic to cephalosporins, according to Drugs.com. This should be discussed with the physician. Cephalosporins are given intravenously to patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae. Common side effects are stomach upset and Clostridium difficile diarrhea, a very severe diarrhea frequently found in hospital settings, according to Drugs.com.
Fluoroquinolones
Fluoroquinolones were developed in response to the increasing drug resistance to cephalosporins. According to Drugs.com, both ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin are effective against Klebsiella pneumoniae. Levaquin, levofloxacin, is a once a day medication and should be given intravenously in klebsiella infection. Ciprofloxacin, or Cipro, is given every 12 hours and should also be given intravenously. Fluoroquinolones have a black box warning of the risk of developing tendonitis and/or tendon rupture as a side effect. Transplant patients, people who use steroid medications and patients older than 60 are at increased risk for this side effect, Drugs.com notes.
Beta-lactamase inhibitors
Some bacteria emit an enzyme called beta-lactamase, which renders penicillin ineffective. A beta-lactamase inhibitor prevents the enzyme from forming and allows the penicillin to do its job. Unasyn, Timentin and Zosyn are all penicillins with beta-lactamase inhibitors, according to Drugs.com. These medications are given intravenously to patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae. Side effects include diarrhea, headaches, stomach upset and possibly vomiting although these medications are usually tolerated well. They should not be taken by patients who are allergic to penicillin.
