Septic arthritis subsequent to urosepsis caused by hypermucoviscous Klebsiella pneumoniae

Abstract

We herein report the first case of septic arthritis caused by rmpA-positive hypermucoviscous community-acquired K. pneumoniae that followed urosepsis in a 65-year-old Japanese woman. The patient responded well to drainage of the abscesses and treatment with cefazolin. Although this virulent phenotype of K. pneu-moniae has been primarily reported in Hong Kong, we confirmed that 18/50 isolates obtained in our hospital over the past five years displayed the hypermucoviscous phenotype. Therefore, clinicians should consider the possibility of an increasing prevalence of rmpA-positive hypermucoviscous K. pneumoniae infection in Japan and be particularly vigilant for invasive clinical manifestations, even in patients with urinary tract infections. © 2013 The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.