Preventing Transmission of Klebsiella Pneumoniae

Key Prevention Strategies

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends decontaminating hands by washing with antimicrobial soap and water if visibly soiled, or using alcohol-based waterless antiseptic hand rub if hands are not visibly soiled 2
Hand hygiene should be performed before and after contact with patients who have respiratory devices or tubes in place, as well as after contact with mucous membranes, respiratory secretions, or objects contaminated with respiratory secretions 2, 3
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests wearing gloves when handling respiratory secretions or objects contaminated with respiratory secretions, and changing gloves between patients and after handling respiratory secretions before touching other surfaces 2, 3
A gown should be worn if soiling with respiratory secretions is anticipated, and changed after such contact and before providing care to another patient 2, 3

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends implementing thorough environmental cleaning procedures with appropriate disinfectants, and dedicating non-critical patient-care equipment to a single patient or cohort of patients infected or colonized with Klebsiella pneumoniae 4, 5
Sterile, single-use catheters should be used for open-system suction, and only sterile fluid should be used to remove secretions from suction catheters if they will be re-entered into the patient's respiratory tract 2, 3
The entire length of suction-collection tubing should be changed between uses on different patients 3
Large-volume room-air humidifiers that create aerosols should not be used unless they can be sterilized or subjected to high-level disinfection daily and filled only with sterile water 1

Reusable respiratory equipment should be sterilized or subjected to high-level disinfection between uses on different patients 3
The mouthpiece of peak flow meters or spirometers should be changed between uses on different patients 1
Active screening cultures should be implemented for high-risk patients in healthcare settings, and contact precautions should be considered for colonized patients in healthcare environments 4, 5
Healthcare workers should avoid wearing artificial nails, as these can harbor pathogens 4, 5

Neglecting hand hygiene between patient contacts is a major risk factor for transmission, and failing to change gloves between patients or after handling contaminated materials can also contribute to the spread of Klebsiella pneumoniae 2
Using non-sterile fluids in respiratory equipment, and inadequate cleaning of shared medical equipment can also increase the risk of transmission 1, 2, 4
Underestimating the importance of environmental cleaning in preventing transmission can lead to outbreaks of Klebsiella pneumoniae 5