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Clinical and microbiological characteristics of community-acquired thoracic empyema or complicated parapneumonic effusion caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae in Taiwan

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Abstract

Klebsiella pneumoniae is the major cause of community-acquired pyogenic infections in Taiwan and is becoming an increasing problem in acute thoracic empyema. This study evaluated the clinical and microbiological characteristics of community-acquired thoracic empyema or complicated parapneumonic effusion caused by K. pneumoniae in Taiwanese adults treated during the period 2001–2008 at a tertiary medical center. All clinical isolates were examined for capsular serotypes K1/K2, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed on strains of the same serotype. K. pneumoniae was the most frequent cause of community-acquired thoracic empyema or complicated parapneumonic effusion. It was associated with high mortality (32.4%) and was an independent risk factor for fatal outcome. Diabetes mellitus, liver cirrhosis, and bronchogenic carcinoma were independent risk factors for K. pneumoniae infection. Serotypes K1 (9/37, 24.3%) and K2 (13/37, 35.1%) were the prevalent strains but did not predispose patients to poor outcome compared with other non-K1/K2 serotypes. There was no major cluster of isolates found among serotype K1/K2 strains. In summary, physicians should be aware of the risk factors for thoracic empyema or complicated parapneumonic effusion caused by K. pneumoniae and the associated high mortality, and monitor these patients more closely.

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Financial support

This study was supported by grants V99A-143 and V99C1-115 from Taipei Veterans General Hospital.

Conflict of interest

All authors report no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Sec. 2, Shih-Pai Road, 112, Taipei, Taiwan

    Y.-T. Lin, T.-L. Chen, S.-F. Hsu & C.-P. Fung

  2. National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

    T.-L. Chen & C.-P. Fung

  3. Unit of Infectious Diseases, Division of Clinical Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Taiwan

    L. K. Siu

Authors
  1. Y.-T. Lin
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  2. T.-L. Chen
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  3. L. K. Siu
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  4. S.-F. Hsu
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  5. C.-P. Fung
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to C.-P. Fung.

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Lin, YT., Chen, TL., Siu, L.K. et al. Clinical and microbiological characteristics of community-acquired thoracic empyema or complicated parapneumonic effusion caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae in Taiwan. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 29, 1003–1010 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-010-0961-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-010-0961-8

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