# Rare case of multisystemic Klebsiella pneumoniae infection in a diabetic patient: a case report

**Authors:** Xiaochang Bin, Fen Tang, Li Zou, Jian Lv, Yanjie Luo, Zhenqiang Tang

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2026.1691190 · Frontiers in Endocrinology · 2026-02-12

## TL;DR

A diabetic patient developed a rare, life-threatening multisystem infection caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae, requiring aggressive treatment and monitoring.

## Contribution

This case report presents a rare clinical scenario of widespread K. pneumoniae infection in a diabetic patient and emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

## Key findings

- A diabetic patient developed concurrent ocular, intracranial, hepatic, and pulmonary abscesses caused by K. pneumoniae.
- Aggressive surgical and antimicrobial interventions led to temporary improvement in the patient’s condition.
- Comprehensive follow-up with MRI scans was essential to monitor treatment response and disease progression.

## Abstract

Multisystemic infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) are rare but can be life-threatening, particularly in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). We report a case of a 65-year-old diabetic female patient who developed concurrent ocular, intracranial, hepatic, and pulmonary abscesses caused by K. pneumoniae.

The patient presented with a subacute onset of cough, fever, and ocular symptoms. The diagnosis was confirmed through integrated clinical assessment, laboratory analysis, and multimodal imaging. The patient’s condition was momentarily improved following enucleation of the infected eye and initial empirical therapy with meropenem and vancomycin, followed by targeted antimicrobial treatment based on the microbiological results. Regular follow-up with serial cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans was performed to monitor disease progression and response to treatment.

This case highlights the critical necessity for early diagnosis, aggressive surgical intervention, and prolonged antimicrobial therapy in diabetic patients with severe Kp dissemination. Comprehensive clinical and radiological follow-up is paramount to ensure therapeutic efficacy and recovery.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** meropenem (PubChem CID 441130), vancomycin (PubChem CID 14969)
- **Diseases:** diabetes mellitus (MONDO:0005015)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase [NCBI Gene 13982007]
- **Diseases:** pain (MESH:D010146), visual loss (MESH:D014786), systemic infection (MESH:D012141), trauma (MESH:D014947), necrotizing fasciitis (MESH:D019115), abscess (MESH:D000038), inflammation (MESH:D007249), hepatic abscess (MESH:D008100), fibrosis (MESH:D005355), Gram-positive infection (MESH:D016908), Hyperglycemia (MESH:D006943), ocular pain (MESH:D058447), chronic kidney disease (MESH:D051436), edema (MESH:D004487), Klebsiella pneumoniae (MESH:D007710), DM (MESH:D003920), malignancies (MESH:D009369), jaundice (MESH:D007565), retinopathy (MESH:D058437), hyperemia (MESH:D006940), K. pneumoniae (MESH:D011014), cerebral edema (MESH:D001929), vitreous opacity (MESH:D003318), corneal edema (MESH:D015715), intraocular infection (MESH:D064090), tachycardia (MESH:D013610), visual deterioration (MESH:C531604), fever (MESH:D005334), respiratory distress (MESH:D012128), eye movement (MESH:D015835), microvascular dysfunction (MESH:D017566), intracranial and ocular infections (MESH:D015817), Endophthalmitis (MESH:D009877), cough (MESH:D003371), tachypnea (MESH:D059246), Multisystemic infections (MESH:D007239), necrotizing pneumonia (MESH:D000071067), immune dysfunction (MESH:D007154), bacteremia (MESH:D016470), diabetic peripheral neuropathy (MESH:D010523), Gram-negative bacterial infection (MESH:D016905), tenderness (MESH:D063806), Enterobacteriaceae (MESH:D004756), type 2 diabetes (MESH:D003924), bacterial infection (MESH:D001424), Pulmonary abscesses (MESH:D008169), intracranial (MESH:D001932), infectious disease (MESH:D003141), diabetic nephropathy (MESH:D003928), cerebral abscesses (MESH:D001922), necrosis (MESH:D009336)
- **Chemicals:** amoxicillin/clavulanate (MESH:D019980), carbapenem (MESH:D015780), vancomycin (MESH:D014640), ceftazidime (MESH:D002442), Meropenem (MESH:D000077731), metformin (MESH:D008687), blood glucose (MESH:D001786), aerobactin (MESH:C031819), MacConkey agar (-), piperacillin/tazobactam (MESH:D000077725), imipenem (MESH:D015378)
- **Species:** Escherichia coli (E. coli, species) [taxon 562], Klebsiella pneumoniae (species) [taxon 573], Streptococcus (genus) [taxon 1301], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Staphylococcus (genus) [taxon 1279], Bacteria Latreille et al. 1825 (Bacteria stick insect, genus) [taxon 629395]

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## References

25 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12935668/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12935668