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Intercontinental spread from Israel to Colombia of a KPC-3-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strain

J A Lopez1, A Correa, S Navon-Venezia

  • 1Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe, Medellín, Colombia.

Clinical Microbiology and Infection : the Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
|March 12, 2010
PubMed

Insights

A carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) outbreak occurred in Colombia in 2008, linked to an international liver transplant patient. This highlights the global threat of carbapenemase-producing CRKP spread.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Klebsiella pneumoniae is a significant nosocomial pathogen.
  • Carbapenem resistance in K. pneumoniae is a growing global health concern.
  • The emergence of K. pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) is particularly alarming.

Observation:

  • An increase in carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) cases was observed in a Colombian hospital in 2008.
  • Eighty-four patients were culture-positive for CRKP, including infected and colonized individuals.
  • The index case involved a patient who traveled from Israel for liver transplantation.

Findings:

  • High-level carbapenem resistance was detected in the identified K. pneumoniae isolates.
  • Polymyxin B and tigecycline were the only effective antibiotics against the resistant strains.
  • Genetic analysis identified the blaKPC-3 gene in the predominant clone, matching a previously described clone from Israel.

Implications:

  • This event underscores the rapid international dissemination of carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae.
  • It highlights the critical need for robust infection control measures in healthcare settings.
  • The findings emphasize the threat posed by KPC-producing pathogens to global public health.

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