Liver abscess caused by magA+ Klebsiella pneumoniae in North America

Abstract

Taiwan has witnessed an emerging syndrome of liver abscess caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae carrying the magA gene required for exopolysaccharide web biosynthesis. We report a patient transferred from Alaska to Washington State with a magA+ K. pneumoniae liver abscess and describe a simple approach for recognition of these hypervirulent strains.