Primary Klebsiella pneumoniae Liver Abscess with Metastatic Spread to Lung and Eye, a North-European Case Report of an Emerging Syndrome

Abstract

A syndrome of community acquired liver abscess caused by highly virulent hypermucoviscous, rmpA positive Klebsiella pneumoniae strains occurs with high incidence in Asia. We here report a case complicated by metastatic infection, to our knowledge, the first one described in Northern Europe. This and other recently reported cases indicate the emergence of this severe syndrome outside of Asia.

INTRODUCTION

In recent years a high incidence of community-acquired primary liver abscess caused by highly virulent strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae has been documented in Taiwan and other Asian countries. [1-4]. A syndrome, with metastatic spread to eyes, meninges, brain and other sites, has been described, and is strongly associated with K. pneumoniae strains of capsular serotype K1 of a characteristic hypermucoviscous phenotype [4, 5]. Two plasmid encoded virulence genes, rmpA (regulator of the mucoid phenotype) and the iron siderophore aerobactin, as well as two chromosomal encoded virulence genes, kfu encoding an iron uptake system and allS associated with allatonin metabolism are significantly correlated with the high virulence of the invasive strains [6, 7]. These highly virulent strains are so far rare outside of Asia, but case reports from USA, Canada, Spain and Belgium have been published lately [8-14].

We here report a Swedish patient with this emerging syndrome caused by a highly virulent K. pneumoniae isolate. This is, to our knowledge, the first case described in Northern Europe.

CASE REPORT

A 45-year old man of Vietnamese origin was admitted with a ten day history of fever, anorexia, fatigue and rightsided abdominal pain. He had no previous history of disease and no medication. At examination, he had signs of peritonitis, hypotension and a red and swollen left eye. He was initially treated with intravenous fluids and imipenem for suspected septicaemia. Pulmonary X-ray and CT-scan revealed right-sided pulmonary infiltrates with pleural effusion and a large mass in the liver with the appearance of multiple cysts. (Fig. 1) Examination of the eye showed marked chemosis, absence of light reflex and intravitreal hemorrhage. Empiric treatment for endophtalmitis was given intravitreously (ceftazidime and vancomycin). Cultures of blood, urine, aspirates from liver and pleural effusion all grew K. pneumoniae sensitive to imipenem and ceftazidime. Cultures that were taken from the eye, after initiation of intravenous therapy, were negative. Despite adequate treatment and continuous drainage of both liver abscess and empyema, repeated cultures from these sites showed the same mucoid strain of K. pneumoniae up to 23 days after initiation of intravenous antibiotics. Two repeated blood cultures taken one week after initiation of therapy were negative. Following three weeks of intravenous therapy, the patient was treated with oral ciprofloxacin for another five weeks. His recovery, although slow, corresponded well with repeated CT-scans of lungs and liver showing regress of the infection. Although the pain in his left eye decreased, his vision is permanently damaged, and he is now blind on the affected eye. The patient had immigrated to Sweden 8 years previously, passing a refugee-camp in Hong Kong, and had been back to visit Vietnam once, 10 months before start of symptoms. Initial investigations of the patient therefore included TB-analyses and a broad parasitic screen, all found to be negative.

Fig. (1).

CT-scans showing liver abscess and right sided empyema.

The K. pneumoniae isolate that caused the infection was found to express the hypermucoviscous phenotype as shown by the formation of mucoviscous strings when a loop was passed through a colony (Fig. 2). Capsular serotyping at the International Eschericia coli and Klebsiella Reference Centre (WHO), Statens Serum Institut revealed that the isolate belongs to the K1 serotype which was confirmed by detection of the K1 serotype specific gene magA as previously described (Fig. 3) [15]. Furthermore the isolate was positive for all four virulence genes rmpA, aerobactin, kfu and allS as revealed by polymerase chain reaction using specific primers (Fig. 3) [5]. Thus the isolate exhibited similar characteristics as the highly virulent K. pneumoniae isolates that have so far mainly been observed in Asia.

Fig. (2).

Plate culture demonstrating the hypermucoviscous phenotype of the isolate.

Fig. (3).

Detection of magA (lane 1), rmpA (lane 2), aerobactin (lane 3), kfu (lane 4) and allS (lane 5). PCR amplifications were performed by use of specific primers (5, 15).

DISCUSSION

The rising incidence of K. pneumoniae community acquired primary liver abscess in otherwise healthy individuals caused by highly virulent strains and often complicated by severe metastatic infections is disturbing [2, 3, 14]. Whereas this emerging infectious disease so far has been observed mainly in Asia, a rising number of cases from other geographic regions indicate that these infections may develop into a world wide problem. It is remarkable that the majority of cases outside Asia have involved patients of Asian ethnicity. The reasons for the predominance of this syndrome in patients of Asian ethnicity are not known, but suggest that genetic susceptibility may play an important role. Alternatively, it could be speculated that there may be a food source of the virulent bacteria. Cases with no history of traveling to Asia have been reported demonstrating that highly virulent K. pneumoniae strains are present outside of Asia [10, 12, 13]. However, although our patient had only had Swedish and Vietnamese contacts, he may have been colonized with the strain in Vietnam 10 months before onset of symptoms.

Patients with a recent history of travelling in foreign countries are often thoroughly investigated for infections with virus, bacteria or parasites that are typical for the region visited. Bacterial species that are common all over the world can, with the same antibiotic susceptibility-pattern, vary geographically in regard to virulence-factors corresponding to clinical picture and outcome. A connection between the causative agent, the region visited and the clinical picture is easily overlooked if analyses of these bacterial strains are restricted to identification to species-level and susceptibility-testing. With this case report, we would like to highlight an emerging syndrome caused by a bacterial species common in Europe, but of a serotype and with specific virulence genes still rare outside of Asia.