Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis

On this page you’ll find an overview of meningitis caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria, including symptoms, treatment and prevention. 

• Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis is a serious illness that needs urgent treatment.
• Klebsiella pneumoniae is estimated to be the third-largest cause of meningitis deaths globally.
• In parts of Asia, Klebsiella pneumoniae is a significant cause of bacterial meningitis in healthy adults, though the condition itself is rare.
• Outside Asia, this cause of meningitis is less common. Some people are more vulnerable to this type of meningitis.
• They include pre-term infants, the elderly, people with weakened immune systems, and patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures or being treated in hospital for a long time.
• The bacteria that cause this type of meningitis are becoming resistant to antibiotics, which is making this type of meningitis more difficult to treat.
• Currently, there is no vaccine to protect against Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis.

What is Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis?

Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis is the swelling of the membranes, called meninges, that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord. It’s caused by the bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae (also known as K. pneumoniae).

Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis occurs when K. pneumoniae bacteria invade the body and enter the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which surrounds and cushions the brain and spinal cord. In the CSF, bacteria can rapidly multiply and release poisons, causing inflammation and swelling in the meninges. This increases pressure on the brain, producing symptoms of meningitis.

What are the symptoms of Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis?

The symptoms of Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis can progress rapidly, and early diagnosis and treatment will increase the chances of a full recovery. 

Early symptoms of Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis can look like milder, more common infections.

Symptoms may include: 

• Fever.
• Vomiting.
• Severe headache.
• Stiff neck (less common in young children).
• Dislike of bright lights.
• Seizures (fits).
• Confused / delirious.
• Very sleepy / vacant /difficult to wake.

Symptoms in babies and very young children can be slightly different. Their symptoms may include:

• High temperature (warning: could be normal or low in babies under three months old).
• Irritability.
• Vomiting / refusing to feed.
• A high-pitched cry.
• A stiff body with jerky movements or else floppy and lifeless.
• Very sleepy / staring expression / too sleepy to wake up.
• Tense or bulging soft spot on the top of their head.
• Not everyone with meningitis will get all these symptoms. 

People with Klebsiella pneumoniae  meningitis will get worse fast. Check regularly on someone who is unwell. Always trust your instincts and get medical help straight away if you or someone you know is seriously ill. 

Read more about the symptoms of meningitis. 

How do you get Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis?

K. pneumoniae bacteria are commonly found living in the human intestines. This is completely harmless most of the time. But if the bacteria move to other parts of your body, they can cause serious and even life-threatening disease. If they travel through the blood and invade the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord, it can cause meningitis.

Many cases of K. pneumoniae infection occur in a hospital setting. The bacteria are spread by direct contact, such as through contamination of ventilator equipment, catheters or other types of tubing used in healthcare settings.
 
Other types of disease caused by K. pneumoniae include:

• Urinary tract infections.
• Surgical site infections.
• Bloodstream infection.
• Liver abscesses.
• Pneumonia.

Who can get Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis?

Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis can affect anyone, but is more common amongst hospital patients and healthcare settings. Some patients are at higher risk than others. This includes:

• Patients with devices such as ventilators (breathing machines).
• Patients with intravenous (IV) catheters.
• Patients who are taking certain antibiotics for a long period of time.
• Patients who have undergone neurosurgical procedures for brain lesions, a head injury or a CSF leak.

K. pneumoniae infections can occur outside the hospital setting, but this is rare in people who have a healthy immune system. Instead, cases tend to occur in:

• Elderly patients.
• Pre-term infants.
• People who have a weakened immune system due to illness (such as diabetes, alcoholism and chronic liver disease).

There a particularly aggressive strain (type) of the bacteria that can cause severe infection in healthy people. It often affects the liver, but it can spread to any part of the body. These infections have been increasingly reported worldwide, particularly in Asia over the past few decades.²

How is Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis treated?

Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis must always be treated urgently with antibiotics.
 
Meningitis can kill quickly, so if you suspect that you have this disease you should seek immediate medical care. Prompt recognition and hospital treatment offer the best chance of a good recovery.

In hospital, the doctor may do a lumbar puncture (LP) to help diagnose meningitis. A lumbar puncture involves taking a sample of cerebrospinal fluid from the spinal canal (the passageway through the back bones which contains the spinal cord). A lumbar puncture is important to confirm the diagnosis of meningitis. It will also show which germ is causing the illness so doctors can choose the most appropriate treatment.

You may be given antibiotics intravenously (directly into the vein).

If you’re very unwell, you might be transferred to a special ward in the hospital where you can be regularly monitored by hospital staff. In the UK, this is known as an Intensive Care Unit.

For many years antibiotics have been used to treat Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis. But the bacteria are finding new ways to resist antibiotics. This is known as antimicrobial resistance. The rise of antibiotic-resistance is making Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis very difficult to treat. Some strains of K. pneumoniae are resistant to most antibiotics, including carbapenems (a class of antibiotics which are often considered last-resort drugs).

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified K. pneumoniae as one of the drug-resistant bacteria that are most threatening to human health. Research into the prevention and control of this bacteria is now a priority.³

Read more about the treatment of bacterial meningitis.

What are the after-effects of Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis?

Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis affects everyone differently. Most people make a full recovery without any lasting problems. But in some cases, it can cause ongoing problems which may need further treatment and support.

The possible after-effects of pneumococcal meningitis include:

• Learning and intellectual disabilities such as memory loss, lack of concentration or issues with thinking and problem solving.
• Clumsiness and co-ordination problems.
• Headaches.
• Deafness, hearing problems, tinnitus, dizziness or loss of balance.
• Epilepsy or seizures.
• Weakness, paralysis or spasms.
• Loss of sight or vision problems.
• Hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain).
• Mental health issues and changes to personality or behaviour.
• Difficulties with sleep.
• Fatigue.
• Anxiety and depression.

Severe neurological complications such as brain abscesses⁴ are after-effects that have been seen in patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis.⁵ In infants affected, neurological problems caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis are often more severe than those experienced by survivors of Group B Strep or E.coli meningitis.⁶

Long-term after-effects of meningitis are usually identified while you are still in hospital. For very young babies it might not be possible to tell if they have any long-term effects until they get older. 

Is there any follow-up care after recovery from Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis?

Ideally, you should be given information about what to expect during recovery before you leave the hospital. The follow-up care you receive will be different depending on where in the world you live, the services available, and the guidelines that your local doctors follow. If you have ongoing needs, you might have further treatment involving different teams of doctors and specialists.
 
In the UK, doctors will arrange at least one follow-up appointment six weeks after the initial illness so they can check for longer term after-effects. For babies under one year of age, there will be an additional follow up appointment one year after the illness. This is particularly important as many long-term neurodevelopmental after-effects can't be identified immediately after your baby’s initial illness.

Read more about the follow-up care after recovery from meningitis.

Can we prevent Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis?

Although it’s not possible to prevent Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis, there are things that may help to reduce the chance of developing the disease. As the bacteria are passed from person to person, limiting physical contact and ensuring good hand hygiene is essential to preventing the spread of infection.

Healthcare workers should follow specific infection control precautions. These may include wearing gloves and gowns and maintaining a clean and sterile environment for patients.

Can I get a vaccine to protect me against Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis?

There is currently no vaccine available to prevent against Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis.

Author: Meningitis Research Foundation.
Reviewed by: Dianne Spalding, Meningitis Research Foundation Ambassador.
Published: 4 April 2025.