General Overview of IKlebsiella pneumonia/I: Epidemiology and the Role of Siderophores in Its Pathogenicity

Numerous diseases, such as liver abscesses, bacteremias, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections, are caused by Klebsiella pneumonia (K. pneumonia). Historically, immunocompromised patients have been the main target of serious infections induced by K. pneumoniae. However, with the recent appearance and dissemination of hypervirulent strains, healthy individuals have also become susceptible to infection. Moreover, treating K. pneumoniae infections is extremely difficult due to the strains’ increased antibiotic resistance. This review summarizes the various virulence factors of this bacterium, especially metallophores. The bacteriology, pathology, and epidemiology of K. pneumonia are also included in this review. The opportunistic pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) can colonize mucosal surfaces and spread from mucosae to other tissues, causing fatal infections. Medical equipment and the healthcare setting can become colonized by Klebsiella species, which are widely distributed in nature and can be found in water, soil, and animals. Moreover, a substantial number of community-acquired illnesses are also caused by this organism worldwide. These infections are characterized by a high rate of morbidity and mortality as well as the capacity to spread metastatically. Hypervirulent Klebsiella strains are thought to be connected to these infections. Four components are critical to this bacterium’s pathogenicity—the capsule, lipopolysaccharide, fimbriae, and siderophores. Siderophores are secondary metabolites that allow iron to sequester from the surrounding medium and transport it to the intracellular compartment of the bacteria. A number of variables may lead to K. pneumoniae colonization in a specific area. Risk factors for infection include local healthcare practices, antibiotic use and misuse, infection control procedures, nutrition, gender, and age.