Abstract
BackgroundAsymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) frequently occurs among all ages and may develop into urinary tract infections (UTIs). Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) has become a new threat to human health. In our study, we aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of hvKP in population with ASB.ResultsA total of 61 K. pneumoniae isolates were collected from 7530 urine samples between October and December 2020. The strains were sensitive to most of the antimicrobial agents tested, but a polymyxin resistant strain was found (MIC>16 μg/mL). Three serotypes were detected, including K1 (16.4%, 10/61), K5 (1.6%, 1/61) and K57 (3.2%, 2/61). Four strains (KPNY9, KPNY31, KPNY40, and KPNY42) carried a combination of two or more hypervirulent markers (peg-344, iroB, iucA, prmpA, and prmpA2), and their survival rates after Galleria mellonella infection were lower than those of the other strains (40.0 vs. 70.0%), suggesting that they were hvKP. These hvKP strains with lower biofilm forming ability than classical K. pneumoniae (0.2625 ± 0.0579 vs. 0.6686 ± 0.0661, P = 0.033) were identified as belonging to K2-ST65, K2-ST86, K57-ST592, and K2-ST5559 (a new ST type). KPNY31 (ST5559) shared a close genetic relationship with KPNY42 (ST86) and other ST86 isolates, which have been detected in both nosocomial and community-acquired infections.ConclusionsThe hvKP with relatively weak biofilm formation was detected in a population with ASB, which was more likely to cause bacteremia and serious consequences. A novel sequence type (ST5559) hvKP derived from ST86 was found. Therefore, hvKP should be monitored in the population with ASB.
Highlights
Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) frequently occurs among all ages and may develop into urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Characteristics of classical K. pneumoniae (cKP) and Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) isolates A total of 7530 urine samples were collected and 61 K. pneumoniae isolates were found from 61 people, 20 men and 41 women, respectively
Antimicrobial susceptibility of K. pneumoniae isolates We tested the sensitivity of the isolated KP strains to a panel of antimicrobial agents and discovered that all strains were sensitive to the most of agents detected
Summary
Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) frequently occurs among all ages and may develop into urinary tract infections (UTIs). Hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKP) is a variant of K. pneumoniae (KP), but more pathogenic, transmitted, and with a higher mortality rate [4, 5]. It can cause multiple sites of infection, including abdominal disease, thoracic disease, endophthalmitis, central nervous system disease, and genitourinary tract infections [5]. It has been detected in UTIs with multidrug resistance and even extensively drug-resistant isolates [6,7,8].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call