Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia

Klebsiella pneumoniae, also known as Friedlander's bacillus, is the earliest recognized Gram-negative bacillus that can cause pneumonia. The onset of the disease is sudden, with chills, high fever, cough, chest pain, and purulent sputum. Brick-red gelatinous sputum is characteristic. Some patients have gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and jaundice. Some patients present with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection. A very small number of patients present with a chronic course, which may also develop from an acute course.