Waterborne Klebsiella and human disease

Klebsiella occurs widely in nature and is often present in surface waters used for human consumption or for recreational purposes. The organism can survive in water distribution systems despite chlorination. Many strains give rise to a positive fecal coliform test even when they are the only organisms present in the water sample. The public health significance of Klebsiella in water is therefore an important concern. In the past Klebsiella was thought to be a significant pathogen in the community causing serious primary pneumonia, but such cases are now extremely rare. Serious Klebsiella infections are today commonly seen only in hospital patients whose resistance has been impaired by their primary disease condition. There is no evidence that waterborne Klebsiella play any significant part in the epidemiology of these hospital‐acquired infections. Klebsiella in water supplies should therefore not to be considered a hazard to human health.