Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae: Epidemiology, virulence factors, and antibiotic resistance
Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae: Epidemiology, virulence factors, and antibiotic resistance
Enas M. Hefzy1*; Reda M. Taha2; Safaa Abd El Salam2; Abdelrhman Abdelmoktader1; Mahmoud A.F. Khalil3
ABSTRACT
Human infections induced by Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) include
pneumonia; urinary tract infections, liver abscesses, bacteremia, and others. The introduction
and spread of the hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKp) strains have raised the number of
persons who are already susceptible to infections, including those who are healthy or immunecompromised.
Infections can occur worldwide; however, they are particularly prevalent in the
Asia-Pacific area. Virulence plasmids as well as other conjugal components contain the
genetic material that gives hvKp its hypervirulence phenotype. Although the vast majority of
hvKp isolates are antibiotic-susceptible, the incidence of virulent as well as resistant isolates,
such as carbapenem-resistant hvKp isolates, is continuously growing. Multidrug resistance
(MDR) and increased virulence of these strains may be the cause of the subsequent clinical
crisis. This study aimed to review and analyse the epidemiology, the factors associated with
hypervirulence, and the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance of the hvKp strains in order to
provide a better understanding of the basic biology of these strains.
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February 2023
Vol. 7, Iss. 1,
