Septic Arthritis Subsequent to Urosepsis Caused by Hypermucoviscous Klebsiella pneumoniae

We herein report the first case of septic arthritis caused by rmpA-positive hypermucoviscous community-acquired K. pneumoniae that followed urosepsis in a 65-year-old Japanese woman. The patient responded well to drainage of the abscesses and treatment with cefazolin. Although this virulent phenotype of K. pneumoniae has been primarily reported in Hong Kong, we confirmed that 18/50 isolates obtained in our hospital over the past five years displayed the hypermucoviscous phenotype. Therefore, clinicians should consider the possibility of an increasing prevalence of rmpA-positive hypermucoviscous K. pneumoniae infection in Japan and be particularly vigilant for invasive clinical manifestations, even in patients with urinary tract infections.