Emergence of Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscesses in South-western Sydney

Excerpt

Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess (KPLA) with metastatic infection has been recognised as an emerging infectious disease since being described originally from Taiwan (where it accounts for up to 78.5 % of all liver abscesses), subsequently from other Asian countries and, more recently, from non-Asian countries [1, 2]. The risk of metastatic infection with KPLA has been linked to APACHE II scores ≥20 and septic shock [1]. In non-Asian countries, KPLA syndrome cases have arisen predominantly in patients of Asian ethnicity [3, 4]. South-western Sydney is ethnically diverse, with 28 % of the total population and 12 % of regional hospital admissions being of Asian ethnicity (Australian Bureau of Statistics census data 2011; Clinical Information Department Statistics). We retrospectively reviewed patient files for this KPLA syndrome to determine their age, gender, ethnicity, travel history as recorded in formal infectious disease consultation, contact history, presenting features, APACHE II scores, diabetic status, baseline investigations, management and outcomes by the time of discharge. Data were analysed using SAS version 5.1 for Windows (Cary, NC, USA) and study approval was granted by the South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) ethics committee (QA2010/015). …