Community-Acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae Central Nervous System Infections in Adults in Singapore

A series of successfully managed community-acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae infections of the central nervous system (CNS) that occurred in six non-neurosurgical adult patients in Singapore over a 2-year period is reported. Three patients had abscesses that were drained, and three had meningitis; all were treated with third-generation cephalosporins. All six patients were middle-aged adults, three of whom were food handlers. Clinicians should be aware of Klebsiella pneumoniae as an important CNS pathogen, particularly in East Asia. Although third-generation cephalosporins have had a major impact on the outcome of Klebsiella pneumoniae CNS infections, the emergence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing strains may lead to their reduced efficacy in this clinical setting.