New EU Risk Report warns of rise of Hypervirulent Carbapenem-Resistant K pneumoniae
Type of article: News
MedED Catalogue Reference: MNG0021
Category: News | Public Health | Infectious Diseases
Keywords: antibiotic resistance, Klebsiella infectious diseases, K pneumoniae
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22 February 2024, 08:30
Contributor: Linda Ravenhill
The European Centre for Disease and Infectious Control ( ECDIC) is warning of an increase in the incidence of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) infections across several European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries.
Compared to the previous assessment in 2021, the number of countries reporting cases of hvKp sequence type (ST) 23 has surged from four to 10, with a corresponding increase in the number of isolates under scrutiny, rising from 12 to 143.
Of particular concern is the sustained dissemination of the globally dominant hvKp ST23-K1 lineage, harbouring carbapenemase genes, within healthcare facilities in Ireland over a span of five years, despite concerted efforts to contain its spread. Additionally, suspected clusters of hvKp ST23-K1 isolates, hinting at potential within-country transmission, have been detected in France, Latvia, and Lithuania, although confirmation awaits comprehensive epidemiological investigation. This trend suggests a likelihood of similar patterns in other EU/EEA nations with less robust surveillance systems.
The emergence of K. pneumoniae strains with combined hypervirulence and resistance to last-line antibiotics, notably carbapenems, poses a grave threat. Unlike traditional strains, hvKp variants can precipitate severe infections even in healthy individuals, often disseminating to diverse anatomical sites. Formerly prevalent in Asia as primarily community-acquired pathogens with rare antibiotic resistance, hvKp strains now display broader geographic distribution, increased association with healthcare environments, and multidrug resistance. This worrisome virulence and antimicrobial resistance convergence raise the spectre of potentially untreatable infections, especially among previously healthy adults.
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Risk Assessment: Emergence of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae ST23 carrying carbapenemase genes in EU/EEA countries - first update (europa.eu)
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