An Unusual Case of Klebsiella pneumoniae Endocarditis

Klebsiella pneumoniae notoriously causes life-threatening community-acquired or hospital-acquired pneumonia. In the United States, community-acquired pneumonia is a relatively common diagnosis. However, community-acquired pneumonia due to Klebsiella pneumoniae is fairly uncommon. Delayed antibiotic administration can result in bacteremia, septicemia and other systemic complications. Infective endocarditis arising as a complication of community-acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae infection has rarely been reported. Our patient is an 88-year-old diabetic female, who was admitted to our intensive care unit due to a high-grade fever, worsening dyspnea and hypotension. Chest x-ray and blood culture were conclusive for pneumonia due to Klebsiella pneumoniae. Importantly, the species was only susceptible to colistin. Furthermore, an echocardiogram revealed mobile vegetations of the non-coronary cusp of the aortic valve. Treatment with colistin resulted in clinical improvement and an uneventful discharge from the hospital. Follow up echocardiography was scheduled upon discharge to monitor the resolution of cardiac vegetations.