<<–2/”>a href=”https://exam.pscnotes.com/5653-2/”>p>Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella are both Gram-negative bacteria that belong to the Enterobacteriaceae family. They are commonly found in the human intestinal tract and the Environment. While E. coli is a normal part of the gut Flora and plays a role in maintaining gut Health, some strains can cause serious infections. Klebsiella, on the other hand, is more often associated with opportunistic infections, particularly in healthcare settings. Both bacteria have significant clinical importance due to their ability to cause a range of infections and their increasing resistance to antibiotics.
| Feature | E. coli | Klebsiella |
|---|---|---|
| Taxonomy | Escherichia coli | Klebsiella pneumoniae (most common species) |
| Shape and Structure | Rod-shaped, single or in pairs | Rod-shaped, usually in pairs or short chains |
| Motility | Motile (flagella) | Non-motile |
| Capsule | Generally non-capsulated, except in some pathogenic strains | Prominent polysaccharide capsule |
| Fermentation-2/”>Fermentation | Ferments lactose rapidly | Ferments lactose slowly or not at all |
| Urease Production | Negative | Positive |
| Indole test | Positive | Negative |
| Citrate Utilization | Negative | Positive |
| Oxidase Test | Negative | Negative |
| Hemolysis on Blood Agar | Beta-hemolytic (some strains) | Non-hemolytic |
| Disease Association | Urinary tract infections, gastroenteritis, septicemia, neonatal meningitis | Pneumonia, urinary tract infections, septicemia, liver abscesses |
| Antibiotic Resistance | Increasing resistance to multiple antibiotics | Often resistant to beta-lactams, carbapenems, and other antibiotics |
| Habitat | Intestinal tract of humans and animals, environment | Intestinal tract of humans and animals, Soil, water |
| Transmission | Fecal-oral route, contaminated food and water | Person-to-person contact, contaminated medical equipment |
E. coli commonly causes urinary tract infections, gastroenteritis, septicemia, and neonatal meningitis.
Klebsiella is transmitted through person-to-person contact, often via contaminated medical equipment or hands of healthcare workers.
Yes, non-pathogenic strains of E. coli are part of the normal gut flora and play a role in digestion and synthesis of VITAMINS.
Both bacteria have strains that are resistant to multiple antibiotics, making infections difficult to treat and leading to increased morbidity and mortality.
Infections can be prevented through proper hygiene, sanitation, safe food handling, and strict adherence to infection control practices in healthcare settings.
There are no widely available Vaccines for E. coli and Klebsiella infections, but research is ongoing to develop effective vaccines.
The polysaccharide capsule in Klebsiella enhances its virulence by protecting it from the host immune system and aiding in evasion from phagocytosis.
E. coli is motile with the help of flagella, while Klebsiella is non-motile.
Yes, certain pathogenic strains of E. coli, like E. coli O157:H7, can cause severe foodborne illness.
E. coli is widely used in Biotechnology for protein production, while Klebsiella is used in the production of chemicals like 2,3-butanediol and for nitrogen fixation in agriculture.