{"title":"Pandrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from Ukrainian war victims are hypervirulent","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.jinf.2024.106312","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>Carbapenem- and colistin-resistant <em>Klebsiella pneumoniae</em> were isolated from war victims treated in hospitals in Ukraine. The question was whether these pandrug-resistant <em>K. pneumoniae</em> are pathogenic and capable of causing disease in a broader context.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div><em>Klebsiella pneumoniae</em> clinical isolates (<em>n</em> = 37) were tested for antibiotic resistance and subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS). In addition, their pathogenicity was tested by serum resistance and two separate animal models.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Isolates belonging to the sequence types (ST) 23, 147, 307, 395, and 512 were found to harbor resistance genes against carbapenems and cephalosporins. Nine isolates carried point mutations in <em>pmrB</em> and <em>phoP</em> genes associated with colistin resistance. All bacteria were equipped with multiple virulence genes, and the colistin-resistant isolates each carried 10 different genes. Colistin-resistant <em>K. pneumoniae</em> were more serum-resistant, more virulent against <em>G. mellonella</em> larvae, and displayed an increased survival in mice compared to colistin-susceptible bacteria. The <em>iucA</em>, <em>peg-344</em>, <em>rmpA</em>, <em>rmpC</em>, and <em>rmpD</em> genes were associated with increased virulence in animals.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Pandrug-resistant <em>K. pneumoniae</em> in Ukraine are hypervirulent and retain their pathogenicity, highlighting the need to prevent disseminated spread.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50180,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":14.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Infection","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0163445324002469","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"INFECTIOUS DISEASES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objectives
Carbapenem- and colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae were isolated from war victims treated in hospitals in Ukraine. The question was whether these pandrug-resistant K. pneumoniae are pathogenic and capable of causing disease in a broader context.
Methods
Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates (n = 37) were tested for antibiotic resistance and subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS). In addition, their pathogenicity was tested by serum resistance and two separate animal models.
Results
Isolates belonging to the sequence types (ST) 23, 147, 307, 395, and 512 were found to harbor resistance genes against carbapenems and cephalosporins. Nine isolates carried point mutations in pmrB and phoP genes associated with colistin resistance. All bacteria were equipped with multiple virulence genes, and the colistin-resistant isolates each carried 10 different genes. Colistin-resistant K. pneumoniae were more serum-resistant, more virulent against G. mellonella larvae, and displayed an increased survival in mice compared to colistin-susceptible bacteria. The iucA, peg-344, rmpA, rmpC, and rmpD genes were associated with increased virulence in animals.
Conclusions
Pandrug-resistant K. pneumoniae in Ukraine are hypervirulent and retain their pathogenicity, highlighting the need to prevent disseminated spread.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Infection publishes original papers on all aspects of infection - clinical, microbiological and epidemiological. The Journal seeks to bring together knowledge from all specialties involved in infection research and clinical practice, and present the best work in the ever-changing field of infection.
Each issue brings you Editorials that describe current or controversial topics of interest, high quality Reviews to keep you in touch with the latest developments in specific fields of interest, an Epidemiology section reporting studies in the hospital and the general community, and a lively correspondence section.