The changing epidemiology of extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae

Abstract

In the last two decades, Klebsiella pneumoniae demonstrated some characteristics of acquisition of plasmids coding extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL). The review data showed an increase in worldwide prevalence of ESBL and a temporal shift in the prevalence of ESBL types in K.pneumoniae during this last decade. CTX-M-15 seems to be the predominant ESBL type in K.pneumoniae in some parts of the world. The dissemination of several nosocomial CTX-M-15-producing K.pneumoniae clones was reported unlike the worldwide dissemination of a single virulent ST131 CTX-M-15 producing Escherichia coli clone. The diversity of plasmids carrying the bla(CTX-M-15) gene in K.pneumoniae suggested the frequent transfer of this gene between different replicons. The acquisition of the bla(CTX-M-15) gene by K.pneumoniae was probably occurred via horizontal transfer from E.coli.