Klebsiella bacterium in the stool of children: what is it and how to treat the disease? Klebsiella is a dangerous bacterium for babies. Symptoms and treatment Treatment of Klebsiella in children

Parents often notice that their infant is restless all the time and often cries. In most cases, the cause of this is abdominal pain, diarrhea, and increased gas formation. These symptoms may be caused by Klebsiella, a pathogen from the Enterobacteriaceae family.

When it enters the body, it primarily affects the large intestine, which leads to gastrointestinal disorders and, in rare cases, can cause pneumonia.

For a healthy adult, the bacterium poses no danger. It can live in the body without manifesting itself in any way. When unfavorable factors occur, the bacillus is activated and leads to the development of the disease - klebsiellosis.

Pathogen

Klebsiella belongs to the conditionally pathogenic (displaying its pathogenic properties in the presence of certain conditions) gram-negative microflora of quite large sizes. The rod is immobile and does not form spores. It is covered with a capsule that protects it for a certain time when exposed to unfavorable conditions: in water, soil, milk, and other products. Klebsiella tolerates average temperatures and heat quite well, but dies when boiled.

Classification of Klebsiella and the diseases they cause

Modern classification ranks Klebsiella among enterobacteria - microorganisms that live in the intestines and other organs. There are seven types of Klebsiella, but two of them are dangerous for the child’s body:

• klebsiella pneumoniae (pneumonia);
• klebsiella oxytoca (oxytoca).

Another name for Klebsiella pneumonia is Friedland's bacillus. In the vast majority of cases, it is the causative agent of diseases in infants. In a normal state of health, the microorganism lives peacefully in the children's intestines, and there is absolutely no need to fight it.

If Klebsiella in the intestines is not a problem, then its penetration into the blood, urinary ducts, joints and brain tissue, as well as its activation in the large intestine, can become a real threat to the child’s health.

In this case, klebsiellosis develops, and sometimes klebsiella sepsis.

Klebsiella in a child in the vast majority of cases leads to intestinal disorders. Sometimes it can cause pneumonia. Often its so-called nosocomial form develops, occurring after or during hospital treatment.

Paths of penetration of bacteria and causes of disease development

A microorganism can be accidentally discovered in the stool of a completely healthy child when cultured for microflora and at the same time pose no danger to the baby. Klebsiella can also enter the body from the outside (exogenous infection):

• through dirty hands
• with water,
• with milk;
• due to non-compliance with hygiene rules when feeding a child (for example, due to unwashed nipples);
• when coughing, sneezing (airborne infection);
• Since the bacterium persists in the soil for some time, it also enters the digestive tract through poorly washed fruits and vegetables.

The reason why the bacteria becomes active and begins to multiply rapidly is most often due to the weakening of the body’s defenses.

The most common occurrence of Klebsiella-related pathologies in infants is due to:

• insufficient development of the immune system of children;
• a small amount of normal microflora on the skin, in the intestines, in the respiratory organs, etc.

The following also become a favorable background for the development of the pathological process:

• allergic conditions;
• presence of intestinal problems;
• weakening of the body's defenses due to illness or lack of nutrients and vitamins in the diet;
• treatment with antibiotics, leading to suppression of normal intestinal microflora, reduction in the number of lacto- and bifidobacteria;

Frequent use of antibiotics not only contributes to the development of klebsiellosis, but also complicates its treatment, since bacteria develop resistance to the drugs used.

Manifestations of klebsiellosis in infants

Klebsiellosis is an acute infectious pathology, which is characterized by predominant damage to the gastrointestinal tract. Basically, its course follows the type of acute intestinal infection with damage to the mucous membrane (it is this that becomes the target for the toxins released by Klebsiella). Diagnosis of klebsiellosis is somewhat difficult, since its symptoms resemble ordinary dysbiosis. A sick child has:

• bloating;
• pain;
• flatulence;
• colic;
• regurgitation of milk;
• fever;
• temperature increase;
• loose stool mixed with mucus, sometimes blood, with an unpleasant sour-milk odor;
• Prolonged diarrhea can cause dehydration.

The severity of the clinical picture largely depends on the baby’s immunity. When it is sufficiently developed, the disease proceeds sluggishly and is accompanied by mild symptoms.

Weakening of the body's defenses (due to certain reasons) leads to the rapid development of klebsiellosis, the threat of severe intoxication and dehydration of the body. In this case, it is necessary to provide the baby with urgent help. Most often, hospitalization is performed.

Possible consequences of the disease

As already mentioned, if the immune system is in a normal state, there is no particular cause for concern. In this case, Klebsiella provokes a mild infectious disease that can be easily treated in a short period of time.

With an advanced form of the disease, its severe course, quite complex conditions can develop:

• pneumonia (pneumonia);
• various forms of intestinal infections;
• conjunctivitis;
• severe types of runny nose;
• sinusitis;
• meningitis;
• damage to the respiratory system;
• diseases of the genitourinary system;
• sepsis.

Diagnostics

Primary diagnosis is based on the clinical picture. To confirm the presence of klebsiellosis, additional cultures of blood, urine, vomit, and cerebrospinal fluid are done. After Klebsiella is isolated, it is also necessary to determine its specific variety.

For diagnosis, the increase in tetra antibodies to a specific Klebsiella strain in the blood serum is important.

Treatment methods

Rapid or severe course of the disease requires treatment in a hospital. Hospitalization is indicated if there are signs:

• severe dehydration;
• sepsis;
• infectious-toxic shock.

Isolated intestinal damage does not require the use of systemic antibiotics. In this case, treatment is carried out in the following ways:

• intestinal antiseptics are used;
• means for restoring intestinal microflora and stimulating its development;
• to prevent dehydration, medications are used to restore water balance: solutions of glucose and salts (orally); in case of nausea accompanied by vomiting, the drugs are administered intravenously with a further transition to oral rehydration;
• Enzymes are used for complete digestion of food.

Severe systemic forms of klebsiellosis are treated in the following ways:

• the use of antibiotics taking into account the sensitivity of the microorganism to them;
• use of means to strengthen the immune system.

Disease treatment protocol

For the treatment of klebsiellosis, experts have developed a special treatment protocol, or industry standard, which should be followed when prescribing a course. According to him, the treatment uses:

1. Antibiotics of the following groups:

• penicillins;
• cephalosporins;
• aminoglycosides;
• nifuroxazide.

When treating infants, other antibiotics active against Klebsiella are rarely used because they are highly toxic and have a number of side effects.

2. Medicines that have a selective biological effect - so-called bacteriophages that are active against Klebsiella. The main ones:

• liquid purified bacteriophage klebsiella pneumoniae;
• liquid purified polyvalent Klebsiella bacteriophage;
• complex liquid pyobacteriophage.

These agents selectively absorb and destroy only Klebsiella, without showing activity against other microorganisms. They have no contraindications and are as effective as antibiotics. Their use is advisable to suppress the growth of pathogenic bacteria in stool analysis in case of an unfavorable developmental history of the baby and an increased susceptibility to intestinal infections.

If young children have a stomach ache, diarrhea, or are tormented by increased gas formation, klebsiellosis may be the cause of their poor health. The disease is caused by Klebsiella, an opportunistic microorganism belonging to the class of Enterobacteriaceae. It invades the colon and causes a number of gastrointestinal disorders. In rare cases, Klebsiella causes pneumonia in children.

Features of the pathogen Klebsiella

Klebsiella is a large bacterium that is a representative of the gram-negative flora. The stationary stick is covered with a protective capsule, which increases its survival in adverse environmental conditions and products. The pest tolerates warm temperatures and heating well, but dies when boiled.

Scientists identify 7 types of Klebsiella, but the most dangerous to a child’s health are:

• “oxytoca” – klebsiella oxytoca;
• “pneumonia” – klebsiella pneumoniae.

In most cases, Klebsiella in infants and older children provokes intestinal disorders, and occasionally pneumonia. The baby may catch the hospital-acquired form of pneumonia during his hospital stay or get sick upon returning home from the clinic.

Ways of infection with klebsiella

The causative agent of intestinal pathologies can be detected in the stool of a healthy child when parents submit a sample for microflora culture. At the same time, the baby feels normal and does not complain about anything. The causes of damage to the child’s body by klebsiellosis are very different:

• eating dirty or poorly washed fruits, vegetables, fruits;
• failure by the mother to comply with hygiene rules when feeding the child;
• contact with a person already suffering from bacterial infection (when coughing and sneezing, the stick is released into the air);
• drinking low-quality milk or raw water;
• the habit of putting foreign objects into the mouth or sucking fingers, while the hands are dirty.

Symptoms of bacterial infection

The clinical picture of klebsiellosis is similar to the course of acute intestinal infection, which affects the mucous membranes. But it is sometimes difficult for a doctor to accurately recognize Klebsiella, because the symptoms of its infection resemble dysbacteriosis. However, parents may suspect something is wrong if the following abnormalities appear in the child’s well-being:

1. bloating;
2. fever;
3. temperature increase;
4. regurgitation of milk or formula;
5. baby's complaints of abdominal pain and increased gas formation;
6. prolonged diarrhea, in which the products of defecation emit an unpleasant sour-milk odor or blood and mucus are visible among the masses.

Klebsiellosis in children: diagnosis and treatment

The doctor makes a preliminary diagnosis based on the child’s complaints or the picture described by the parents. To confirm his assumption, the specialist suggests conducting a culture of vomit, urine, blood and cerebrospinal fluid, as well as taking a test for Klebsiella. After the pathogen is isolated, its type is determined.

The norm of the pathogen in the feces of an infant is 105. An indicator of 10 to the 6th degree, detected in 1 g of a sample of defecation products, is already considered a deviation and requires therapeutic measures. In the rarest cases, Klebsiella is found in urine, but it appears there by accident. If its value does not coincide with the indicators that doctors define as normal, and the child has a high temperature, this may indicate the progression of pyelonephritis.

Klebsiella is detected during laboratory testing of the stool of an absolutely healthy child or one suffering from intestinal disorders. Klebsiellosis is treated with bacteriophages.

Treatment of Klebsiella if the baby’s condition has significantly worsened is carried out in a hospital.

Antibiotic therapy for klebsiellosis in newborns is rarely carried out, since the developing organism reacts to drugs with adverse reactions. For infants, cephalosporins, penicillins, and other antibiotics are toxic substances.

Preparations of selective biological effects, or Klebsiella bacteriophages, are prescribed in liquid purified forms:

1. complex pyobacteriophage;
2. bacteriophage Klebsiella pneumonia;
3. Klebsiella bacteriophage polyvalent.

They destroy only Klebsiella without affecting other microorganisms that make up the intestinal flora.

In case of isolated damage to the tract, treatment is carried out with medications of different groups - intestinal antiseptics, stimulants for the development of beneficial flora, enzymes for better absorption of food. To prevent dehydration, the body is saturated with solutions of salts and glucose. If the child feels nauseous and vomits regularly, the water balance is restored with intravenous medications.

Our specialist comments

1. If Klebsiella is detected in your baby's stool, at an early stage of the disease it does not pose a great danger. But if the rod titer is far from the “norm” indicator, with a weakened immune system, the microorganism can provoke and accelerate the development of meningitis, conjunctivitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, diseases of the genitourinary or respiratory system.
2. Maintain the health of your baby's intestines from the first days of your baby's life. Keep breastfeeding for as long as possible, introduce complementary foods in a timely manner, and enrich the diet with fermented milk products.

Stool analysis and intestinal infections that it will show

Children are born without their own microflora. Therefore, they are especially susceptible to infections caused by opportunistic microorganisms. These include klebsiellosis, the causative agents of which can also occur in healthy people. The disease develops only when the immune system is underdeveloped or weakened. What to do if a child is diagnosed with Klebsiella?

Klebsiella is a common causative agent of intestinal infections in infants; less commonly, it causes pneumonia and other pathologies.

Causative agents of klebsiellosis and their classification

Klebsiella infection is caused by rod-shaped bacteria from the genus Klebsiella. They belong to the Enterobacteriaceae family and can live in small numbers in the intestines. However, they can affect any organ.

There are several types of bacteria in the genus Klebsiella, but diseases are caused by four of them:

1 and 2. Klebsiella Oksitok and Friedlander (pneumonia)

Oxytoc and pneumonia sticks affect joints, eyes, meninges, gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary system. They cause septicopyemia - sepsis, characterized not only by intoxication of the whole body, but also by the formation of multiple abscesses in various tissues and organs; and also cause bacteremia - a condition in which the bacteria themselves are found in the bloodstream.

Important! The pneumonia bacillus is isolated as a separate species only because only these bacteria from the entire genus can cause pneumonia. But the risk of its development is the lowest compared to the above diseases.

3. Frisch-Volkovich stick (rhinoscleromas)

Klebsiella Frisch-Volkovich causes chronic damage to the nasal mucosa - rhinoscleroma. The bacterium can also involve the upper respiratory tract and bronchial tree in the inflammatory process.

The development of the disease occurs against a background of weakened immunity.

4. Klebsiella Abel-Levenberg (ozena wand)

The Abel-Levenberg bacillus causes a fetid runny nose - ozena, characterized by atrophic changes in the nasal bones and mucous membranes. The disease is accompanied by the production of secretion, which, when dried, forms crusts with a strong unpleasant odor. The infection can also affect the nasopharyngeal cavity, larynx and trachea.

How does infection occur?

The source of infection is a person with Klebsiella disease or a Klebsiella carrier (without symptoms of the disease).

Routes of transmission of bacteria:

• fecal-oral (main);
• airborne (for pneumonia);
• contact.

Dirty hands are one of the causes of infection.

The pathogen penetrates into the environment along with mucous secretions when coughing or sneezing. Klebsiella is spread through unwashed hands, remaining on various surfaces.

Main causes of infection:

• eating unwashed foods;
• drinking poor quality water or milk;
• violations of personal hygiene rules;
• contact with an infected person or carrier of the infection.

The bacterium can enter the baby's body from the fur of a pet.

Klebsiella - bacteria with high vitality

Klebsiella do not have devices for movement and can live alone or in pairs, sometimes in chains. They belong to anaerobes - microorganisms that do not require oxygen for their life and reproduction.

Bacteria are able to form a capsule around themselves - a protective shell. Thanks to her, they show high resilience. Klebsiella is resistant to high and low temperatures: does not die in refrigeration chambers and continues to live at 65 degrees Celsius for one hour. It is not killed by disinfectants and most antibacterial drugs. It often remains on the hands even after washing with bactericidal soap.

Thorough hand washing with soap will prevent infection.

Who is more susceptible to infection?

Klebsiellosis can affect anyone with a weakened immune system. But Newborns and babies in the first year of life are especially susceptible to infection: their immune system is still imperfect. There is a high risk of infection in premature babies. Klebsiella affects people suffering from blood diseases, chronic and oncological diseases, and diabetes.

Attention! Outbreaks of Klebsiella infection often occur in hospitals and maternity hospitals. This happens because disinfection does not prevent the spread of pathogens, and the wards are filled with people with weakened immune systems.

Is it possible to recognize klebsiellosis in children?

In children, Klebsiella leads to the development of one of two diseases:

• pneumonia;
• intestinal disorder.

After infection, the incubation period begins. It lasts for 1-7 days.

Then symptoms of klebsiellosis appear.

The baby needs to be treated only if the normal amount of bacteria in the stool is exceeded.

Pneumonia

Klebsiella pneumonia has similar symptoms to other bacterial pneumonias (caused by pneumococcus, staphylococcus). The onset of the disease is acute:

• chills;
• high body temperature (39 and above);
• stubborn cough with the discharge of viscous sputum in the form of mucus with the inclusion of pus and blood streaks.

When listening from the affected lung, weakened breathing and wheezing are observed. An X-ray examination reveals small or large foci of inflammation in these places.

Important! Klebsiella pneumonia can present itself as a severe respiratory disease, as it is often associated with a viral infection. It affects the nose, nasopharynx, throat and is expressed in the form of a runny nose and sore throat. It is impossible to distinguish ARVI from Klebsiella lung damage at home.

The average duration of pneumonia is 3 weeks during intensive care.

Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.

Intestinal infection

Klebsiella in a child most often leads to the development of intestinal disorders. Its signs are similar to those of:

• enteritis;
• gastroenteritis;
• enterocolitis;
• gastroenterocolitis.

Children experience:

• Increase in body temperature to 37-39 degrees(lasts from 2 to 12 days, but usually no more than 3-5 days).
• Frequent regurgitation in infants or vomiting in older children. During the first 2-3 days, vomiting occurs up to 2-8 times a day.
• Liquid stools of yellow-green color and watery consistency. Diarrhea bothers the child from 3 to 10 days; up to 20 acts of bowel movement occur per day. The stool sometimes contains blood (in 10% of babies).
• Stomach ache. They are paroxysmal in nature. With Klebsiella, infants become restless. When you palpate the abdomen, it intensifies, which indicates the presence of pain.
• Dehydration (from debilitating vomiting and diarrhea).
• Lack or decreased appetite.
• Lethargy and lethargy.

Treatment must be started immediately, otherwise dehydration may develop.

On average, the acute period of the disease lasts 5 days. Then the children get better.

Features of the course of Klebsiella infection in children under one year of age

In babies born at term, klebsiellosis usually takes the form of an intestinal disorder. It manifests itself in the form of short-term (2-3 days) thinning and increased frequency of stools. In premature babies, Klebsiella infection is severe:

• Bowel movements 8-20 times a day. The consistency is watery, the color is yellow-green, inclusions in the form of cloudy mucus and sometimes blood are visible.
• The baby becomes lethargic and lethargic, he often spits up and does not latch on to the breast.
• Body weight decreases sharply (up to 500 grams in 1-2 days) due to dehydration.
• The skin turns pale and takes on a gray tint.

One of the symptoms is diarrhea more than 10 times a day.

In premature babies, pneumonia is often associated with intestinal distress. Then signs of pneumonia, respiratory failure and neurotoxicosis, manifested in the form of seizures, are added to the symptoms. Hemodynamic disturbances (pathological changes in blood composition) and acidosis (a severe form of a shift in the acid-base balance to the acid side) are observed.

Diagnostics

There are no clinical symptoms characteristic only of klebsiellosis (KPT). Therefore, after an initial examination of a sick child, the doctor makes only a preliminary diagnosis without specifying the form of the disease. The final diagnosis is made on the basis of laboratory study of biomaterial:

• feces;
• urine;
• nasal discharge;
• mucus from the mouth;
• sputum;
• cerebrospinal fluid.

The choice of material to be studied depends on the preliminary diagnosis. In case of intestinal disorder, feces are collected, in case of pneumonia - sputum.

Stool analysis will show how things are.

Methods for studying biomaterial:

• Bacterioscopy(Gram staining of smears). The diagnosis of Klebsiella is made when thick rod-shaped bacteria are detected, colored blue and found in chains, pairs and singly (this reaction to staining and a similar arrangement is characteristic only of Klebsiella).
• Bacteriological method(inoculation on nutrient media and subsequent analysis of the grown microflora). Klebsiella infection is determined based on the observed growth of blue and green-yellow colonies with a metallic tint.
• Serological method(RA and RNHA are the reaction of direct and indirect hemagglutination with the blood serum of a sick child). Klebsiella is detected at a titer (maximum dilution of a bacterial suspension in water, upon inoculation of which growth is observed) of 1:160 or more.

The doctor will ask you to donate blood.

Additionally, the following are performed: general urine and blood tests, coprogram (study of the physicochemical properties of feces).

Attention! Klebsiella is often detected in the stool of an absolutely healthy child. This is acceptable if there are no more than 105-106 bacteria per 1 gram of feces. They may be present in small quantities in the urine, but should normally be absent from the pharynx.

Galina from Armavir shares in her review:

“During a routine medical examination at 6 months, my son was found to have 107 Klebsiella in his stool. The child felt well and had no problems with bowel movements. But the pediatrician warned that the bacteria content is higher than normal, so if the immune system is weakened, an intestinal infection will develop. To prevent possible illness, the doctor prescribed preventive treatment.”

Treatment of klebsiellosis in children

Since diseases caused by Klebsiella develop acutely, If your baby’s health suddenly deteriorates, call an ambulance. The doctor on duty will make a preliminary diagnosis, advise you to take tests at the clinic the next day, or hospitalize the child.

Important! Mild forms of intestinal disorders are treated at home under the supervision of a doctor. In case of severe infections of the gastrointestinal tract and pneumonia, the baby is admitted to the hospital.

Today, Klebsiella has acquired resistance (resistance) to antibacterial drugs, so it is difficult to cure Klebsiella infection with them. Previously, antibiotics were successfully used (in the absence of resistance in bacteria they are still used today):

• Tetracycline;
• Ampicillin;
• Aminoglycoside;
• Doxycycline;
• Rifaximin;
• Levomycetin;
• Levofloxacin.

Bacteriophages are drugs containing viruses that “eat” microbes but do not disrupt the intestinal microflora.

To treat klebsiellosis today, medications containing bacteriophages are used - viruses that infect microbial bodies and lead to their destruction. They act selectively, so beneficial microorganisms remain alive, and Klebsiella die.

Attention! The effectiveness of bacteriophages is lower than that of antibiotics. However, they have no contraindications or side effects, and also maintain normal intestinal microflora. Therefore, it is safe to treat even the smallest patients with them.

The following bacteriophages are used to treat klebsiellosis:

• Bacteriophage Klebsiella pneumonia (acts only against Friedlander's bacillus).
• The bacteriophage is polyvalent (against several species of Klebsiella).
• Pyobacteriophage is polyvalent (combined drug against several types of bacteria, including Klebsiella).

Medicinal enemas are indicated for infants and newborns when bacteriophages are prescribed.

Bacteriophages are prescribed to children from birth orally (on an empty stomach three times a day, ideally an hour before meals). In case of intestinal disorder, one oral dose of medication is replaced with an enema. See the table for the dosage of the drug by age.

Depending on the clinical symptoms, the following is also prescribed:

• antipyretics;
• antiemetics;
• expectorants;
• solutions for intravenous administration for dehydration.

Milana from Ufa writes:

“Laboratory examination of stool showed that the intestinal disorder of the 5-year-old daughter was caused by Klebsiella. They also found out that bacterial strains are sensitive to antibiotics. Since they are more effective than bacteriophages, the doctor recommended them. The course of treatment was 5 days. But antibacterial drugs, unlike bacteriophages, kill all flora, including beneficial ones. Therefore, we were additionally prescribed probiotics (Linex). I gave my daughter a capsule three times a day for 3 weeks.”

Linex is a source of probiotic microorganisms and is effective in the complex treatment of Klebsiella.

The duration of treatment for intestinal infection is 5-15 days. Klebsiella pneumonia is treated for at least 3 weeks.

Complications

If left untreated, klebsiellosis progresses and causes complications (organs that are involved in the inflammatory process are indicated in parentheses):

• purulent meningitis (brain);
• toxic hepatitis (liver);
• toxic-infectious myocarditis (heart);
• sepsis (spread of infection throughout the entire body).

Hemorrhagic syndrome (bleeding of the mucous membranes), edema of the lungs and brain, as well as encephalitic reactions (convulsions) may develop.

Important! Intestinal disorders caused by Klebsiella, with timely treatment, occur without consequences. Pneumonia causes death in 30-35% of cases.

Prevention

After klebsiellosis, children develop immunity to the type of bacteria that caused the disease. However, it is unstable, so you can get sick again.

Relapse prevention includes the following measures:

• compliance with personal hygiene rules;
• strengthening the immune system (hardening, proper nutrition, physical activity);
• timely treatment of acute and chronic diseases.

Hardening from a very early age will strengthen the baby’s immunity.

Infectious disease doctor, Natalya Ivanovna Bykova, tells how to maintain the health of children’s intestines:

“Stable beneficial microflora is formed during breastfeeding. No formula, neither cow's nor goat's milk can provide what the mother's milk provides to the baby. It is advisable to breastfeed for 2 years. Complementary feeding should be introduced in a timely manner (no earlier than 4, no later than 6 months) and gradually (starting with 1 spoon and increasing the amount day by day). From 6 months, introduce fermented milk products (kefir, soft cottage cheese) into the diet. This will increase the child’s body’s resistance to various infections.”

Klebsiella is a bacteria dangerous to the health and life of a child. It usually causes an intestinal infection, which can be treated successfully and without consequences. But sometimes the disease affects the lungs, and then it is severe. There is a risk of death. The danger of klebsiellosis lies in the fact that it has no distinctive symptoms. Therefore, at the first signs of acute respiratory viral infection or gastrointestinal disorders complicated by high temperature, consult a doctor for additional examination.

Alisa Nikitina

Normal intestinal microflora always contains both good and bad bacteria. Many parents are scared when their infants are diagnosed with Klebsiella. There must always be a certain balance between all microorganisms in the body. Bacteria are considered part of the microflora of the skin, mucous membranes and intestines. Klebsiella is considered one of these microorganisms. It is also part of the atmosphere. Present in water, soil, dust and even food. If Klebsiella is detected in the stool, but no symptoms of the disease appear, this condition does not always require special treatment. Every day the body fights against harmful bacteria. But when the immune defense weakens, pathogenic bacteria take over the good microflora.

Klebsiella pneumoniae - what is it? This is a bacterium that can cause serious inflammatory diseases of the respiratory, digestive and genitourinary systems.

There are several main types of Klebsiella:

• Klebsiella pneumoniae usually affects lung tissue, causing the development of pneumonia;
• Klebsiella oxytoca has a detrimental effect on the intestines. In this case, severe dysbacteriosis develops, body temperature rises, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea appear;
• Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis affects the upper respiratory tract, and the nasal mucosa is especially affected;
• Klebsiella ozaenae is the causative agent of severe diseases of the nasopharynx. At the same time, a specific fetid odor emanates from the patient.

Peculiarities

Each bacterium has characteristics characteristic only of it. Klebsiella are not capable of movement. They cannot form spores. They have a capsule structure, which makes them resistant to environmental factors. These bacteria can remain in water, soil and on household objects for a long time. This microorganism is classified as an anaerobe. This means that Klebsiella can reproduce even without access to oxygen. They can be stored both at room temperature and in the refrigerator. They reproduce well in milk. They begin to die at 65 degrees. Their final death occurs within an hour and a half after boiling.

The Klebsiella bacterium is part of the normal microflora of the intestines, skin and mucous membranes.

In most cases, Klebsiella attacks a severely weakened body. People at risk often include:

• patients who have undergone severe operations on internal organs;
• newborns and infants;
• pregnant women;
• aged people.

Quite often, Klebsiella affects the bodies of newborn children. At the same time, some disturbances in the health of infants are observed. This happens because their immune system is not yet stable. Klebsiella infection has a number of symptoms similar to some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. This is why in many cases treatment does not bring any results, because it was prescribed incorrectly. In the first days of life, the child is too vulnerable. During this period, parents should protect the baby from unnecessary contacts. You should carefully monitor the baby's health and, if the first alarming symptoms appear, immediately consult a doctor.

If the doctor begins to suspect that the child has an intestinal infection, a stool test is immediately prescribed. It is in the stool that not only Klebsiella, but also some other pathogenic microorganisms can be found. But such a symptom does not always require emergency treatment, because Klebsiella can be part of the normal microflora of the body. The important thing is in what concentration this bacterium will be detected. There are also some specific symptoms of the disease that require immediate drug therapy.

Children may complain of abdominal pain that is paroxysmal in nature.

Symptoms of klebsiellosis in children:

• severe bloating;
• increased formation of gases;
• profuse vomiting;
• the appearance of mucus or blood in the stool. Feces have an unpleasant sour odor;
• body temperature rises sharply;
• the child becomes capricious due to severe abdominal pain.

Treatment of intestinal infection caused by Klebsiella

If there is a slight increase in bacterial standards in urine and stool tests, it is enough for the patient to drink probiotics along with bacteriophage preparations.

The presence of Klebsiella in the body in high concentrations requires specific drug treatment. Most often, medications are prescribed that can relieve the symptoms of intestinal inflammation. Probiotics help restore normal microflora. Enzymes are prescribed to improve digestion processes. One of the main factors in treatment is restorative therapy using rehydron, a solution that helps restore the amount of lost fluid. Bacteriophages in the form of solutions are prescribed for oral administration. If this is not possible, bacteriophages are introduced into the body using an enema. These substances are aimed at combating pathogenic microorganisms. They are able to completely destroy and stop the proliferation of Klebsiella in the body. All medications should be prescribed only by an infectious disease specialist or pediatrician. The dosage is determined for each child individually.

Causes of diseases caused by Klebsiella

Klebsiella is often transmitted by foodborne illness.

People commonly call intestinal infections “diseases of dirty hands.” And it is true. After all, you can get infected with most infections quite easily. The main reason is non-compliance with personal hygiene rules. The main causes of intestinal infections also include:

• failure to comply with hygiene standards when breastfeeding. In newborns, Klebsiella oxytoca is most often diagnosed;
• allergic manifestations that significantly weaken the baby’s body. That is why it is necessary to avoid the child’s contact with possible allergens. You should also contact a specialist in order to select the most effective treatment for allergies in infants and nursing women;
• weakened immunity of the child. The baby is very vulnerable. It takes some time for his immune defense to gain strength. Therefore, if possible, contact of the infant with strangers should be avoided. It is necessary to breastfeed your baby for as long as possible, since breast milk contains a large amount of natural immunoglobulins;
• weakening of the body after illnesses;
• lack of nutrients and vitamins in the child’s body. All breastfeeding women should carefully monitor their diet. Food should be as fortified and varied as possible;
• antibiotic therapy in infancy. Antibiotics can help against many diseases. But long-term use of them leads to the development of intestinal dysbiosis. That is why, after treatment with antibiotics, mandatory restorative drug therapy should be carried out. To restore normal intestinal microflora, a course of lacto- and bifidobacteria is usually prescribed.

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Klebsiella in newborns and children older than one year Link to main publication

A common occurrence for a small baby is the appearance of colic in the abdomen and intestinal upset. The newborn's sleep is immediately disturbed and he becomes restless. Sometimes the cause of this disease is Klebsiella; it can be easily detected in a child’s stool during analysis.

When reaching a child, the bacterium causes dysbiosis, intestinal disorders, bloating, and can also cause pneumonia. If in the adult body of a healthy person this stick may not cause the development of inflammation, then in a small baby it can cause irreversible consequences, especially if treatment is delayed.

Diagnosis of this disease is difficult due to the similarity of symptoms with other pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.

Klebsiella: how it is dangerous for children's health

This disease belongs to a group of pathogenic microorganisms that, under normal conditions, can live in the human intestines, but develop when the body is weakened.

There are 7 types of the disease, but the most common are 2 types:

• Klebsiella pneumonia;
• Klebsiella oxytoca.

In infants, the causative agent of the disease is most often klebsiella pneumoniae, which is detected in the child’s stool during examination.

There is a danger because, in addition to the intestines, bacteria can penetrate the meninges, bones, urinary system, and blood, which will pose a threat to the baby’s life. Thus, sepsis may develop.

If the baby’s body is healthy, these bacteria can also be detected, and his condition will not worsen.

Penetration from the environment occurs in the following ways:

• contaminated hands;
• through drinking untreated water;
• from contaminated milk;
• if the nipples are treated incorrectly before feeding;
• by air;
• from soil, dust;
• through unwashed vegetables and fruits.

Children often have weakened immune functions of the body, which contributes to the development of inflammatory processes, after which Klebsiella in the child’s intestines begins to become more active.

In the first months of life, the appearance of pathologies is associated with the following reasons:

• Poorly developed immune system;
• Lack of the required amount of microflora on the skin, intestines, and respiratory tract.

The most favorable conditions for the development of bacteria are:

• allergic reactions;
• gastrointestinal pathologies;
• weakened body, with a lack of vitamins;
• long and uncontrolled treatment with antibiotics.

Frequent treatment with antibiotics will only make the disease more difficult to treat. This is because the sensitivity of bacteria to many types of drugs is significantly reduced.

How does the disease develop in the intestines?

Klebsiella has the appearance of a stick, quite impressive in size. It is not mobile, it is protected from the outside by a special capsule, with the power of which it is highly resistant to high and low temperatures.

The bacterium does not die even when cooled and not all antibiotics are capable of destroying it. Studies have shown that when boiled, the bacterium loses its viability.

Once in the baby’s intestines, it may not show any development, but at the most unfavorable moment, when the body’s protective functions decrease, rapid development will occur.

Klebsiella pneumonia found in a child’s stool is a cause for concern and further examination of all gastrointestinal organs. If it enters the large intestine, it can pose a serious threat to the health of the baby, especially in the first months after birth.

Symptoms in a child

Many parents confuse this disease with dysbiosis, to which almost all children are susceptible in the first weeks after birth.

When Klebsiella is present in the intestines, symptoms in children in the first months of life appear as follows:

• bloating and gas;
• regurgitation after eating;
• colic;
• diarrhea with mucus and sometimes blood clots;
• increased body temperature;
• febrile attacks;
• pain in the abdomen.

It is possible to determine whether it is dysbacteriosis or Klebsiella only after analysis. Most often, when Klebsiella is detected in a child’s stool, the symptoms will indicate that the disease is developing.

In severe cases of the disease, the child may become dehydrated and vomiting may occur several times a day. The following symptoms are observed:

• decreased appetite;
• loss of vitality.

Klebsiella pneumonia causes a sharp increase in body temperature in a child, sometimes even above 39°C.

The patient develops a cough with sputum production, which has an unpleasant odor and may contain blood clots. Klebsiella pneumonia is detected in the child’s stool after analysis.

An X-ray allows for a more accurate diagnosis. Thus, the doctor identifies all lesions. The disease is most often accompanied by other respiratory diseases.

Sometimes an intestinal infection occurs together with pneumonia. Then the child may experience the following symptoms:

• frequent seizures;
• enterocolitis;
• acidosis.

With timely help, this disease can be cured. However, parents often resort to medical help when the disease becomes protracted.

The child may experience the following complications:

• infections in the intestines;
• meningitis;
• sinusitis;
• conjunctivitis.

In newborn babies, the disease begins to develop on the scalp, especially in the presence of birth injuries from forceps.

Lesions of the limbs and joints may occur, usually manifested by swelling at the site of the lesion. When swaddling, the child begins to behave restlessly, and the body temperature does not always exceed the norm.

Treatment for children

If the disease is mild, infants are prescribed bacteriological medications. These include:

• Bacteriophages;
• Prebiotics.

Thus, the baby’s intestinal microflora is restored. However, if the course of the disease is prolonged, this method cannot be used, then antibiotics are prescribed.

However, the baby is under the careful supervision of specialists throughout the entire treatment period.

In addition, the patient is prescribed a course of vitamins to improve immune functions. That is why when Klebsiella appears in a child’s stool, treatment should be carried out quickly.

Conclusion

To avoid the development of this disease, it is necessary to carefully monitor the baby’s personal hygiene. When breastfeeding, pre-treat nipples.

If Klebsiella has been detected in a child’s intestines, treatment should not be delayed. Then you can cope with the disease without any consequences for the baby.

Klebsiella infection in a child is a condition that requires an adequate response from parents and doctors. What to do if your baby is diagnosed with Klebsiella and how to treat the infection, you will learn from this article.

What it is

Klebsiella is a bacterium that in itself is not considered pathogenic. It is an opportunistic organism that can cause disease only under certain conditions. The bacterium was named after its “father,” the discoverer, German pathologist Edwin Klebs. This bacterium belongs to the family of Enterobacteriaceae and, on this basis, has some relationship with Escherichia coli, plague coli, and salmonella. In 2017, Klebsiella was classified as a rather dangerous bacteria, but only because it shows amazing resistance to existing antibiotics. The bacterium shows rapid resistance to new antimicrobial drugs.

Klebsiella is a gram-negative rod that has a capsule that protects it well from environmental influences. Most often, the microbe is found in human feces, on the skin and mucous membranes of the respiratory system, and can also be transmitted through soil, water and food - mainly fruits and vegetables if they are not washed well.

Klebsiella is an anaerobic microorganism; its reproduction usually occurs in an oxygen-free environment. When boiled, the bacterium dies, but in the conditions of the air we are used to, it does not lose its activity and potential danger.

The rod can be in the body of any person undetected as long as his immunity is able to restrain its activity. However, once the immune defense weakens, the bacteria begins to actively multiply. In infants and newborns, the immune system is not strong enough on its own. Of course, the baby is protected to some extent by innate maternal immunity, but only up to six months and not from all diseases. Therefore, the risk of becoming infected with Klebsiella in babies in their first year of life is very high.

The bacterium mainly affects the child's intestines. But the toxins that it releases during its reproduction and life can have a negative impact on any organs and systems of the baby, because they are very vulnerable in newborns. So far, science knows eight varieties of this microorganism. They have rather long and complex Latin names. The difference between species lies in the set of antigens. Most often, two types are detected in childhood: Klebsiella pneumoniae causes pneumonia, and Klebsiella oxytoca causes unpleasant gastrointestinal manifestations with diarrhea and abdominal pain.

These and other types of bacteria can cause diseases such as conjunctivitis, meningitis, sepsis, and even cause rhinoscleroma, which severely affects the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. In its “behavior,” Klebsiella is very close to Staphylococcus aureus, which can also exist in the body of an infected person for a very long time unnoticed and quite peacefully. However, under the influence of unfavorable (for humans) and very favorable (for bacteria) factors, growth and reproduction begin.

The disease “klebsiellosis” as such is not included in the international classification of diseases, but ICD-10 provides certain positions for ailments caused by bacteria, for example, bacterial pneumonia.

Causes

The pathological reasons that contribute to the activity of Klebsiella are quite diverse, but most of them all boil down to a decrease in immunity. Therefore, children who were born weak and sick, premature babies, babies who have inherited HIV infection are at risk of becoming infected with Klebsiella.

In infants and newborns, switching from breastfeeding to artificial milk formula can also provoke an immune decline, since the baby’s body produces most of the antibodies from mother’s milk. The second, no less common, reason for the development of Klebsiella in the body is a violation of the sanitary regime and hygiene rules. The bacterium can enter a child’s body with water if it is not boiled, with poorly washed vegetables and fruits, and even from the hands of adults who care for the baby.

If, on top of everything else, the immune system is weak, then a pathogenic process begins in the intestines or on the mucous membranes of the child’s respiratory organs.

Klebsiella lives not only in the human body, but also in domestic animals. Sometimes infection becomes possible from contact between an infant and a pet. Infection can also occur in a hospital setting, sometimes right in the maternity hospital.

Such hospital bacteria are highly resistant to antibiotics and the diseases they cause are difficult to treat.

Often, a child is diagnosed with the joint presence of both staphylococcus and Klebsiella in the body. These two microbes can act in tandem; staphylococcus disrupts the microflora in the intestines, which creates more favorable conditions for the existence and reproduction of Klebsiella.

Symptoms and signs

If Klebsiella is detected in a baby's stool analysis, then this fact cannot be considered a basis for starting treatment. Rather, this is proof that the baby has these bacteria, but the immune system copes with them, which in itself cannot be considered a disease. We can talk about the development of klebsiellosis only when the child has symptoms.

The signs are not specific, characteristic only of this pathology, and therefore it can be quite difficult to recognize them:

• Stool disorders. The feces become liquid, contain fragments of undigested food, may be foamy, sometimes with blood. The color of stool becomes yellowish-green and has a distinct putrefactive odor.
• Abdominal pain. The child's stomach is swollen, he becomes restless due to pain in the tummy, and increased gas formation may be observed.
• Regurgitation. It is clear that any regurgitation should not be considered a sign of a bacterial infection. Regurgitating profusely, like a fountain, exceeding the volume of a tablespoon should definitely alert parents, as it may indicate the presence of Klebsiella.
• Digestive disorder. A child with klebsiellosis may vomit. He refuses food and his appetite suffers.
• Fever. In the acute stage of infection, the temperature may rise to 38.5-39.0 degrees.

When Klebsiella affects the respiratory system, the symptoms are also acute. The temperature rises (up to 39.0 degrees), a severe cough appears, sputum streaked with blood and an unpleasant odor may be released, the child becomes lethargic and drowsy, is capricious and refuses food. All these symptoms can be signs of a host of other diseases, which makes it all the more important to see a doctor in a timely manner. In fact, parents quite often mistake manifestations of bacterial infection for dysbiosis, and without permission, without the knowledge of the doctor, they begin to give their child prebiotics and probiotics. Without proper treatment, the infection develops further, and the child’s condition worsens significantly.

Considering that the microbe is very resistant to antibiotics, treatment must be carried out under the supervision of a doctor who can prescribe the correct antimicrobial therapeutic course.

Diagnostics

It is not possible to see the bacterium at home and distinguish the disease it caused from other ailments. The fact of klebsiella can be established only on the basis of laboratory tests. The microbe is most often found in feces. However, doctors do not stop there and test the baby’s urine, blood and sputum for Klebsiella.

The microbe is rarely found in urine, only if the baby develops pyelonephritis caused by Klebsiella. In all other cases, the presence of a microbe in a urine test is considered accidental. As already mentioned, the bacterium can also be present in the tests of a completely healthy baby. But in this case, its content will not exceed 10 to the 5th power (105 microbes per 1 gram of feces). If a child has 10 to the 8th power per 1 gram of Klebsiella in the feces, this is the basis for starting treatment for an intestinal infection caused by the bacterium.

10 to the 6th power per gram found in sputum is the basis for suspecting bacterial pneumonia and prescribing appropriate treatment. 10 to 7 degrees is also a pathological concentration that will require treatment.

Additionally, similar bacterial cultures for staphylococcus can be carried out, because it often accompanies Klebsiella. It’s not common, but it happens that a mother is asked to test her breast milk for the presence of bacteria.

Treatment

Do not think that a bacterial infection necessarily requires the use of antibiotics. This is logical, but not necessary. Mild degrees of Klebsiella infection are treated without antimicrobial agents. The child is prescribed probiotics, which will help restore the balance of intestinal microflora, bacteriophages. It is bacteriophages, specially created viruses that have the ability to destroy bacteria, that are considered the main method of therapy. Treatment with bacteriophage can be quite long - up to 3 weeks.

Additionally, depending on the symptoms, antipyretics are prescribed "Paracetamol", "Nurofen", as well as oral rehydration products if your baby has prolonged diarrhea or frequent vomiting ( "Smecta", "Regidron"). To cleanse the intestines more effectively, so-called intestinal antiseptics can be used - "Furazolidone" and similar drugs.

Not all babies tolerate these medications well; for many they cause nausea and headaches. Therefore, if such symptoms appear during treatment, you must tell your pediatrician so that he can find another way to help the baby.

Mild degrees of infection can be treated at home, but with the knowledge and consent of the pediatrician. Because infants are unpredictable people and their condition can worsen at any time. If the infection is severe, the doctor may recommend hospitalization and will be absolutely right. There is no point in refusing treatment in the hospital, if only for safety reasons for the baby. To choose an antibiotic that will act on a specific bacterium found in a child in a hospital setting conduct a study to determine the susceptibility of bacteria to the influence of antibacterial drugs.

To do this, in laboratory conditions, Klebsiella is “attacked” with various antimicrobial agents, and the drug that causes maximum damage to it will be chosen as the main one for the treatment of a particular child. Antibiotics are given together with immunomodulators to increase the baby’s ability to resist.

This whole process takes from 7 days to 21 days, it must be carried out under constant medical supervision, since there is a risk of infection of other organs.

The attending physician will monitor the resistance of the pathogenic microbe and, if necessary, replace one antibiotic with another.

Antibiotics that belong to the family are usually used to treat children under 1 year of age. penicillins or cephalosporins. Their effect on the body as a whole is quite gentle, which is appreciated by pediatricians. Treatment of pneumonia caused by Klebsiella most often takes place in a hospital setting according to a scheme that is very similar to the treatment of intestinal ailments caused by this microbe. Along with the treatment, the doctor necessarily recommends that the nursing mother change her diet and eliminate complex carbohydrates from it.

A child who eats formula must receive additional vitamins; in some situations, the pediatrician advises changing one type of formula to another.

Recently, in the treatment of Klebsiella, most modern doctors are trying to avoid the use of antibiotics, because they believe that the harm from this bacterium is somewhat exaggerated, and the child’s immunity, with proper nutrition and the creation of favorable external conditions, will be able to cope with the infection on its own. Naturally, this applies only to those types of bacteria that cause intestinal symptoms. In the treatment of pneumonia caused by Klebsiella, the approach remains the same.

Possible dangers and consequences

How to treat and whether to treat the Klebsiella bacterium at all should be decided solely by the doctor. The prognosis and duration of treatment largely depend on how quickly the parents noticed that something was “off” and turned to a specialist. That is why it is important not to treat diarrhea and vomiting in an infant with folk remedies, but if such signs appear, immediately call the clinic and call a doctor.

With excessive vomiting, severe diarrhea against a background of high temperature, the risk of dehydration in an infant increases, and this process will be rapid. Therefore, it is important to immediately call an ambulance.

There is no need to be afraid of an infectious diseases hospital, in which, according to the sincere conviction of many parents, “the child will pick up a couple of dozen more viruses and bacteria.”

Theoretically, Klebsiella in an advanced and aggressive form can cause not only diarrhea, but also have a detrimental effect on the condition of the joints, cause sinusitis and meningitis, as well as a very dangerous complication - bacterial systemic sepsis. And although the likelihood of such consequences occurring for the average baby is not so high, it is not worth risking the child’s life.

Prevention

It is quite difficult to protect yourself from Klebsiella, since it surrounds us everywhere, and even their own parents can transmit this microorganism to their child. That is why the greatest emphasis in prevention should be placed not on the sterile cleanliness of everything that surrounds the baby, but on strengthening his immunity. To do this, the child must spend enough time in the fresh air, his diet must contain enough vitamins and microelements necessary for the normal functioning of everything body.

The exception is cases of clinically confirmed immunodeficiency, when such drugs are, in fact, a method of therapy.

Concomitant prevention of klebsiellosis consists of following the rules and standards of hygiene. Adults may not even realize that they are carriers of the bacteria, and therefore it is important to wash their hands with soap and water every time after using the toilet before approaching the child. The baby himself also needs to wash his hands if he has interacted with pets or returned from a walk outside. Only one type of Klebsiella is transmitted by airborne droplets, which causes pneumonia. It is quite difficult to protect against it, but the good news is that such bacterial pneumonia occurs infrequently in children and adults.

Parents of an infected child can also reduce the incidence of the disease. After the pathological content of bacteria is detected in the tests, they must limit the baby’s communication with peers and other children in the family, and stop sharing toys, bedding and utensils until the baby is completely cured.

You will learn more about the prevention and treatment of microbial and bacterial diseases in the following video.

Klebsiella is a pathogenic organism that belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family. An adult with normal immunity is not afraid of Klebsiella bacillus until his immune system is weakened due to some disease.

This pathogen can cause significant harm to the health of young children, and especially infants. For example, Klebsiella in a child can cause illness and also lead to the development of a number of other pathologies.

The pathogen, penetrating inside the human body, affects the large intestine and causes disruption of the intestines and stomach.

A child can become infected with the bacillus after contact with a pet, as well as through mother’s breast milk, or insufficiently washed dishes or hands. In addition, infection can also occur through airborne droplets, when an infected person who is close to the baby sneezes or coughs.

To understand what Klebsiella is in children and how to fight it, you need to know the following:

Unfortunately, in medical practice there are quite a lot of cases in the maternity hospital, clinic or hospital.

Klebsiella is an opportunistic microorganism and is present in small quantities in the body of every person.

Symptoms

Actively multiplying, the Klebsiella bacterium in children can lead to the development of inflammation of the genitourinary system, meningitis, sepsis, conjunctivitis, and intestinal diseases.

However, in most cases, the consequence of the impact of the stick on the body is damage to the intestines and the development of pneumonia.

With the rapid proliferation of Klebsiella in the patient’s body, intense release of toxins occurs, increasing intoxication and dehydration.

In this case, the disease may manifest itself just a few hours after infection.

Infection in the gastrointestinal tract

Klebsiella infection in infants manifests itself as follows:

• Bloating.
• Colic.
• Intense regurgitation.
• Flatulence.
• Loose, unpleasant-smelling stool mixed with blood and mucus.
• Fever (with significant damage).
• Temperature increase.

If you notice any of the above symptoms in your child, you must contact a medical facility for examination.

Klebsiella pneumonia

With the development of Klebsiella pneumonia, the patient experiences symptoms such as chills, persistent fever, shortness of breath, cough, sometimes with blood and an unpleasant odor.

In most cases, Klebsiella pneumonia of a child begins to affect the right upper lobe of the lung, but in the absence of treatment and rapid progression, it quickly spreads to the second lobe. In this case, it is possible to develop:

• Cyanosis and shortness of breath.
• Vomiting.
• Diarrhea.
• Jaundice.

The examination reveals pleural effusion, necrotizing pneumonia, or compacted lung tissue. Intoxication leads to a decrease in the concentration of leukocytes in the blood. X-ray examination reveals a decrease in the size of the affected lung.

Slow progression of the disease leads to the development of chronic necrotizing pneumonitis, reminiscent of tuberculosis. The patient has a cough, anemia, and weakness.

How to diagnose and treat the disease in children

Often parents who have had to deal with klebsiella pneumonia in a child do not know what it is and how to deal with this infection.

To defeat Klebsiella and cure your baby as soon as possible, it is worth studying all the information regarding not only the disease, but also the causes of infection, symptoms and diagnosis.

Since there are no specific symptoms inherent in this type of disease, the patient is given a preliminary diagnosis. To make a final diagnosis, a series of laboratory tests are performed.

When making a diagnosis, it is first necessary to detect the pathogen. To do this, feces, urine, sputum, blood and vomit of the child are examined in laboratory conditions.

After making an accurate diagnosis and determining the affected organ, as well as the severity of the manifestations, the doctor prescribes appropriate treatment.

Urgent hospitalization is indicated for severe dehydration, sepsis, and infectious-toxic shock.

In the absence of these signs, children over three years of age can be treated at home under the supervision of a pediatrician.

Therapy for Klebsiella pneumonia

For Klebsiella pneumonia, treatment in a child is carried out with antibiotics from the group of cephalosporins, penicillins, nifuraxazide, and aminogycosides.

The use of other groups of antibiotics is not advisable, since they are highly toxic and have a large number of side effects.

To treat the disease in children, medications are used that have a selective biological effect on Klebsiella.

In parallel with taking antibiotics, children are prescribed immunostimulating therapy, as well as drugs used to treat coughs and colds.

Children are recommended for massage, the effect of which should be aimed at facilitating and accelerating the separation of mucus from the lungs.

Treatment of the gastrointestinal tract

Infants are particularly sensitive to intestinal Klebsiella infection. Bloating and pain in the tummy make these babies capricious and nervous, they constantly cry and kick their legs.

Often parents, faced with this disease, do not know how to treat Klebsiella in their child.

It should be borne in mind that sick infants, as well as older children, as a rule, are behind in weight and need not only proper treatment, but also special nutrition.

To strengthen the immune system, complex vitamin preparations are prescribed.

First of all, it is necessary to remember that the presence of Klebsiella in the body of children is accompanied by dysbacteriosis.

Therefore, in order to defeat an infection such as Klebsiella, treatment in children should include special enzymes that facilitate the absorption of food, as well as medications that stimulate and restore normal intestinal flora.

Patients who have already completed a course of therapy and got rid of the infection are recommended to periodically take medications to restore normal intestinal flora.

Instead of medications, you can use biokefirs, yoghurts or special starter cultures to prepare biokefirs at home.

Preventive measures

To prevent Klebsiella infection, you should follow basic hygiene rules:

• Wash your hands before eating.
• Carefully handle toys and dishes not only for the child, but also for all family members.
• Follow the rules for transporting and storing food in refrigerators.

It must be remembered that when a child with a weakened immune system uses antibiotic drugs, both pathogenic and beneficial intestinal flora are destroyed. At the same time, the pathogenic flora in sick children tends to recover more actively.

In the fight against a disease such as Klebsiella, treatment in a child should begin, first of all, with strengthening the immune system.

In a healthy body, normal intestinal microflora suppresses the growth of harmful bacteria, and an antibiotic in a weakened body can cause the microbe to become “angry” and artificially increase its pathogenicity.

Infants who are bottle-fed suffer from dysbacteriosis much more often compared to babies fed on mother's milk.

Therefore, you should not wean your child from the breast before the time recommended by the pediatrician, because there is nothing more valuable than the health of your baby.

In contact with

Along with Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella in infants, unfortunately, is also not uncommon. The baby often returns from the maternity hospital already sick, or infection is caused by failure to follow hygiene rules at home. In any case, parents should know what kind of infection this is and how to treat it, so that if necessary, they can be aware of this issue.

What is Klebsiella and why is it dangerous?

Various human organs (nasopharynx, intestines, mucous membranes) have their own microflora. This concept includes a certain ratio of beneficial microorganisms and opportunistic microbes. The latter include: streptococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Helicobacter pylori and Klebsiella, among others.

When the body is exposed to negative factors or when bacteria enter from the outside, one or more types of microorganisms begin to actively multiply, while suppressing other types of bacteria. In this case, the balance of the microflora is disturbed, and opportunistic microbes become pathogenic.

In cases where measures to restore balance are not taken in time, the disease can cause serious consequences:

• meningitis (damage to the membranes of the brain);
• sepsis (blood poisoning);
• pulmonary edema (fluid leakage from the vessels into the bronchi and alveoli);
• toxic hepatitis (liver damage).

Newborns, especially premature babies and children with low immune status, are at increased risk. Infants who are bottle-fed are at high risk of developing the disease, since they are deprived of the opportunity to receive immune cells along with mother's milk.

Pathogens of klebsiella and their classification

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Klebsiella is a gram-negative, facultative anaerobic (i.e., capable of existing in both the presence and absence of oxygen) bacterium of the Enterobacteriaceae family. Outwardly it resembles a thick elliptical stick. Klebsiella have protective capsules, which makes them quite resistant to the environment. Bacteria can live for a long time on objects, toys, water and soil. In dairy products, the sticks survive even at low temperatures (in the refrigerator). Temperatures above 65° are fatal for them; within an hour, Klebsiella die.

The latest classification identifies the following species of klebsiella:

• aerogenes;
• granulomatis;
• michiganensis;
• milletis;
• raoultella (planticola, ornithinolytica, terrigena);
• quasipneumoniae;
• senegalensis;
• steroids;
• oxytoca;
• pneumoniae

Appearance of Klebsiella

Despite such a variety of microorganisms, the last two species pose the greatest danger to children. Often the bacterium joins Staphylococcus aureus, which has already settled in the baby’s intestines (we recommend reading:).

Characteristic symptoms

Depending on the type of bacteria that has infected the child’s intestines, the clinical picture will vary. Klebsiella pneumonia causes complications on the child's lungs, causing pneumonia, while oxytoca causes an acute intestinal infection. Newborns suffer severely from both of these diseases and require emergency hospitalization.

Main manifestations of the lungs

The disease is acute. Symptoms of pneumonia caused by Klebsiella are similar to meningococcal infection:

• sudden fever 39-39.5 C°;
• severe cough with sputum containing blood streaks;
• vomiting is possible;
• wheezing in the lungs;
• labored breathing.

Infection with the bacterium immediately manifests itself as a deterioration in the child’s condition, but an accurate diagnosis can only be made after laboratory tests.

Based on the symptoms, it is clear that it does not have any distinctive features by which the disease could be immediately differentiated. In addition, the strength of the manifestation of certain symptoms is directly related to the age and immunity of the child. Without examinations, even a doctor cannot make a diagnosis.

Manifestations from the gastrointestinal tract

The clinical picture is similar to other intestinal disorders:

• loss of appetite;
• fever;
• repeated vomiting;
• frequent mucous stools of yellow-green color;
• sallow skin color;
• sudden weight loss (especially in infants);
• dehydration of the body.

It is impossible to determine from these symptoms what exactly caused gastroenteritis. To do this you need to take tests.

Diagnostics

Making a correct diagnosis and selecting effective therapy can only be done by a doctor and is impossible without undergoing tests. Regardless of the manifestations, if Klebsiella is suspected, the following tests are taken: a general blood test, stool, urine, and a coprogram. The bacteria may not be sown in urine. If there are symptoms of pneumonia, the patient's sputum is examined.

Klebsiella pneumonia in the stool of a newborn

Klebsiella pneumonia is a normal component of the intestinal microflora, and its detection does not always indicate disease. The norm in 1 g of feces for an infant is 10 to the 6th power. With this test result, no treatment is required. At a reading of 10 to the 7th power per gram, Klebsiella pneumonia is diagnosed and therapy is prescribed.

Klebsiella oxytoca in baby's stool

Finding a stick is also not always a cause for concern. Treatment of Klebsiella oxytoca is not required if its amount in the stool does not exceed 10 to the 6th degree. A bacteria count of 10 to 8 indicates gastroenteritis caused by oxytoka. A bacterium found in urine may indicate damage to the genitourinary system.

Treatment methods

Based on the test results and the patient’s medical history, the doctor selects treatment. Depending on the nature of the intestinal damage and clinical manifestations, the issue of using antibiotics is decided. Therapy should be aimed not only at suppressing Klebsiella, but also at restoring the balance of intestinal microflora.

Use of antibiotics

They try to treat children for bacillus without using antibacterial therapy. However, there are indications for taking antibiotics:

• complicated forms of klebsiellosis (for example, when it is combined with Staphylococcus aureus and other bacteria) (see also:);
• long-term course that is not amenable to alternative treatment;
• poor clinical picture, high risk of complications, when there is no time to use more gentle means.

In such cases, 3-4 generation cephalosporins are used for treatment: Ceftriaxone, Cefotaxime, Suprax. It should be noted that the bacterium is resistant to penicillin and oxacillin groups.

Antibiotics are very effective in treating klebsiellosis, but their use kills beneficial flora in the intestines. After therapy, it is necessary to restore the balance of the microflora with medication.

Treatment with bacteriophages

If a baby has been diagnosed with Klebsiella, but is feeling well, a bacteriophage would be an ideal way to lower the level of bacteria in the intestines. This is the name for special viruses that, unlike an antibiotic, act only on the Klebsiella bacillus (each microbe has its own bacteriophage), without harming other microorganisms and without disturbing the balance in the gastrointestinal tract.

Carrying out rehydration

An adult's body consists of 75% water, and a newborn's body consists of up to 90%. This is why it is so important for us to replenish fluid reserves on time. When a child has an intestinal infection, he loses a lot of weight. In addition, dehydration occurs. It is very important not to get into a critical state, since it is difficult to rehydrate later. This is what is called replenishing the body's water reserves.

Along with loose stools and vomit, not only liquid is released, but also mineral reserves of salts. At the first manifestations of gastroenteritis, without waiting for the depletion of water reserves, it is necessary to start feeding the baby (we recommend reading:).

One of the most common drugs for rehydration is Regidron. It is a powder packaged in sachets. The contents of 1 packet are diluted in a liter of warm water and given to the child. The resulting solution contains all the necessary salts and minerals. The downside is the unpleasant taste.

Especially for infants, there are analogues of Regidron with flavoring additives. The most popular of them:

• Humana Electrolyte;
• Gastrolit.

These drugs additionally contain fennel, which helps relieve cramps and bloating. If you don’t have specialized medications at hand, mineral water will help restore the balance. It is also possible to prepare the solution yourself - to do this, dilute 18 g of sugar and 3 g of salt in 1 liter of water.

The main rule of rehydration is that the patient must be fed in small portions. Depending on age, a single dose is 1-2 teaspoons, otherwise the incoming liquid will only cause a new attack of vomiting. In advanced cases in a hospital setting, rehydration is carried out using droppers.

Using Probiotics

Probiotics can be used in the following cases:

• As an independent therapy in the treatment of Klebsiella. We are talking about mild forms of the disease, when practically nothing bothers the baby, and the analysis showed borderline values.
• As restorative drugs. After treatment, especially with antibiotics, it is necessary to populate the intestines with beneficial microorganisms.

For these purposes, the following are widely used: Bifiform baby, Primadofilus baby, Bifidus. The drugs are available in powder form and are conveniently added to milk or water. Probiotics will help quickly restore the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, relieving the baby of tummy problems.