Chapter V Phage Typing of Klebsiella

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the phage typing of Klebsiella . Strains of Klebsiella are responsible for a wide variety of diseases of man. The increasing number of Klebsiella infections occurring, particularly those of the respiratory, urinary, and alimentary tracts, besides specific diseases like rhinoscleroma and ozaena justify the attempts at typing Klebsiella by bacteriophages. Klebsiella are non-motile rods with well developed capsules, some with fimbriae. One of the characteristic features of Klebsiella is the production of well developed capsules. These are antigenic and constitute the basis for serotyping of Klebsiella according to K-antigens. Klebsiella can be subdivided on the basis of their morphological, physiological, and antigenic characteristics, their resistance to antibiotics, and sensitivity to bacteriocins (pneumocins) and bacteriophages. The practical value of these different methods of typing should be the subject of further clinical and epidemiological evaluations.