Abstract

Hypervirulent strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae are known to cause liver abscesses and other metastatic infections. Being Asian and having diabetes are known host risk factors. Here we present an unusual case of a Filipino ballet dancer–choreographer with diabetes presenting with bilateral leg pains initially thought to be cellulitis, but was eventually diagnosed as bilateral subcutaneous leg abscesses. He also had a liver abscess, thankfully asymptomatic, which was only discovered on imaging. The occurrence of three distant abscesses in one patient, hence ‘3-in-1,’ makes this case worth reporting. Bilateral subcutaneous leg abscesses as the presenting manifestation of this infection have not been reported yet. We hypothesise that his occupation which makes use of frequent contractions of leg muscles led to increased blood flow and preferentially directed blood-borne bacteria to localise in both legs. We have also characterised the pathogen with regards to its hypermucoviscous phenotype, capsular type, virulence genes and phylogeny.