Source and extent of Klebsiella pneumoniae in the paper industry.

Three pulp and paper mill processing plants were evaluated for fecal coliform and Klebsiella pneumoniae bacterial concentrations. Freshwater consumed by paper industries contained minimum detectable levels of K. pneumoniae, less than 10 organisms per 100 ml. Elevated concentrations of K. pneumoniae could be traced from early pulping stages to water processing reuse systems. Concentrations of K. pneumoniae (thermotolerant and thermointolerant) ranged from 40,000 organisms per 100 ml to an estimated 3 x 10(6) organisms per 100 ml. K. pneumoniae biotyping provided evidence for the selective growth and persistence of K. pneumoniae from the initial wood washing stages through to the final effluent discharge. Wastewater treatment had limited effects in reducing K. pneumoniae concentrations. K. pneumoniae levels ranged from 40 organisms per 100 ml to an estimated 10(6) organisms per 100 ml. The presence of K. pneumoniae in water indicates degraded water quality, and its significance with regard to human health effects has yet to be examined.