String Theory - A Case of Hypermucoviscous Klebsiella Pneumoniae Causing Distant Necrotizing Infections

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative, encapsulated bacterium belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family. It is more frequently associated with nosocomial infections and is one of several bacteria developing high rates of antibiotic resistance.1 Since the mid-1980s, there have been reported cases of Klebsiella pneumoniae causing life-threatening, invasive infections acquired in the community by otherwise healthy individuals. The propensity to form metastatic foci of infection in immunocompetent hosts is unusual for an enteric, Gram-negative pathogen.2 This hypervirulent variant of K. pneumoniae was originally noted only in Asian-Pacific countries but is now being identified globally.3 The variant has unique mucoid characteristics and is also often referred to as hypermucoviscous. We discuss a case of a young male who presented with severe sepsis secondary to hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKP) causing distant concomitant abscesses and necrotizing fasciitis.