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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1973 June; 25(6): 900-904
Copyright © 1973 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Potential Pathogens in the Environment: Klebsiella pneumoniae, a Taxonomic and Ecological Enigma¹

^a Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331

ABSTRACT

A nitrogen-deficient medium and m-Endo agar were employed in the isolation of members of the tribe Klebsielleae from surfaces of vegetables and seeds. With m-Endo agar at an incubation temperature of 37 C, nearly 50% of the vegetables and seven out of seven seed samples yielded organisms which biochemically and serologically were identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Viable counts were generally in the range of 10³ cells per g of vegetable peel or seed. Organisms classified as K. pneumoniae exhibited seven different IMViC patterns, with the --++, ++++, and -+++ patterns most common. Seven of the eleven K. pneumoniae serotypes encountered have previously been isolated from human urinary tract and other infections. Fifty percent of the 40 K. pneumoniae examined exhibited positive acetylene-reducing activity, i.e., they possessed the capability for fixing N₂. Vegetables containing K. pneumoniae may constitute a potential reservoir for human nosocomial genitourinary or other infections.

¹ Technical paper no. 3553, Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station.