[Klebsiella infection in oncological patients and K-serovars isolated with this causative agent]

The biochemical identification and serological typing of 104 Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated from oncological patients in cases of purulent septic complications were carried out with the use of agglutinating K-sera prepared at the All-Union Escherichia Center. According to the character of K-antigens contained in these strains they were found to belong to 27 serovars. 6 strains proved to be in the R-form, and the typing of 7 strains could not be carried out with the set of sera used in this investigation. In different kinds of pathological material definite K-serovars prevailed. The sensitivity of the isolated K. pneumoniae strains to 21 antibacterial preparations was studied; as a result, sensitivity to gentamicin was observed in 78%, to dioxydin, in 73% and to chloramphenicol, in 65.5% of these strains. Some specific features characteristic of the course of Klebsiella infection in oncological patients were revealed: in one patient K. pneumoniae cultures belonging to the same K-serovars could be isolated from different foci of infection, while those belonging to different K-serovars could be isolated from the same focus of infection. The analysis of different medical histories yielded results demonstrating that in oncological patients Klebsiella infection took a prolonged and severe course, frequently with fatal termination, thus bringing to naught successes achieved in specific antitumoral treatment.