Since the mid 1980s, the
prevalence of
liver abscess caused by hypervirulent
Klebsiella pneumoniae strain has increased in
Asia, particularly in
Taiwan and
Korea. This
strain is mostly K1 or K2
serotype, and has hypercapsular and hypermucoid
phenotypes. Most
infections are
community acquired, and
patients rarely have a
hepatobiliary disease prior to
infection. Clinical manifestations are characterized by
fever and high
C-reactive protein, and metastatic
infections, such as septic emboli in the
lung and
endophthalmitis and
meningitis are frequently observed.
Antibiotic resistance is rare.
Antibiotic treatment and
abscess drainage are needed, and
early diagnosis and
treatment of
endophthalmitis is also important.