Klebsiella pneumoniae osteomyelitis: demonstration by three-phase radionuclide bone imaging

The Klebsiella pneumoniae bacillus is a rare cause of acute hematogenous osteomyelitis of long bones. Bony involvement usually develops from a bacteremia associated with a Klebsiella pulmonary or urinary tract infection. Diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, or cirrhosis are predisposing conditions to the development of this form of osteomyelitis. A case report follows in which two sites of Klebsiella osteomyelitis were demonstrated by three-phase bone imaging in a patient with both diabetes and alcoholism.