The presence of the Klebsiella oxytoca pathogen in the Tec Italy Shampoo from the German-based company Henkel has been confirmed. As a result, authorities have decided to recall over a thousand shampoos from the shelves. Experts have pointed out that the announcement of the recall has affected the US market, stating that shampoo is not the only product containing Klebsiella oxytoca.
Italian officials found that 6% of over a thousand samples of cow cheese and salami they tested had Klebsiella bacteria. More than two-thirds of these were the deadly Klebsiella oxytoca type found in Tec Italy shampoo. When Klebsiella oxytoca enters the bloodstream, it can lead to serious health problems including pneumonia-like symptoms such as fever, chills, shortness of breath, and cough. The bacterium can also cause life-threatening conditions such as meningitis from inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord, as well as urinary tract infections. It is estimated that Klebsiella oxytoca infection leads to death in 10 to 20% of patients.
According to an article published in the Scientific Reports journal, the microbe is especially dangerous for individuals with weakened immune systems, young people, the elderly, and those undergoing cancer treatment. Klebsiella can also spread to people due to neglect of hand washing. In 2021, a baby died as a result of meningitis caused by Klebsiella oxytoca. Furthermore, the resistance of this bacterium to antibiotics is causing concern among experts.
Experts argue that detailed research is needed to determine how the bacterium is transmitted through food.