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Acquisition of Plasmid with Carbapenem-Resistance Gene blaKPC2 in Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae, Singapore.

Authors :
Yahua Chen
Kalisvar Marimuthu
Jeanette Teo
Indumathi Venkatachalam
Benjamin Pei Zhi Cherng
Liang De Wang
Sai Rama Sridatta Prakki
Weizhen Xu
Yi Han Tan
Lan Chi Nguyen
Tse Hsien Koh
Oon Tek Ng
Yunn-Hwen Gan
Chen, Yahua
Marimuthu, Kalisvar
Teo, Jeanette
Venkatachalam, Indumathi
Cherng, Benjamin Pei Zhi
De Wang, Liang
Prakki, Sai Rama Sridatta
Source :
Emerging Infectious Diseases. Mar2020, Vol. 26 Issue 3, p549-559. 11p.
Publication Year :
2020

Abstract

The convergence of carbapenem-resistance and hypervirulence genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae has led to the emergence of highly drug-resistant superbugs capable of causing invasive disease. We analyzed 556 carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae isolates from patients in Singapore hospitals during 2010-2015 and discovered 18 isolates from 7 patients also harbored hypervirulence features. All isolates contained a closely related plasmid (pKPC2) harboring blaKPC-2, a K. pneumoniae carbapenemase gene, and had a hypervirulent background of capsular serotypes K1, K2, and K20. In total, 5 of 7 first patient isolates were hypermucoviscous, and 6 were virulent in mice. The pKPC2 was highly transmissible and remarkably stable, maintained in bacteria within a patient with few changes for months in the absence of antimicrobial drug selection pressure. Intrapatient isolates were also able to acquire additional antimicrobial drug resistance genes when inside human bodies. Our results highlight the potential spread of carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent K. pneumoniae in Singapore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
10806040
Volume :
26
Issue :
3
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Emerging Infectious Diseases
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
141887112
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2603.191230