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Characterization of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in Belgium

Journal Contribution - Journal Article

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) raised concern worldwide. We studied 22 hvKp clinical invasive isolates referred to the Belgian national reference laboratory between 2014 and 2020. Sixty-four percent of the isolates expressed K2 capsular serotype and belonged to 7 different MLST lineages, while 32% expressed K1 (all belonging to ST23) and were associated with liver abscesses. Primary extra-hepatic infections were reported in 36% and sepsis for 95% of the patients with 30% of deaths. Improved clinical and microbiological diagnostics are required as hvKp may represent an underestimated cause of community-acquired invasive infections in Belgium.

Journal: European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases : Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology
ISSN: 0934-9723
Issue: 5
Volume: 41
Pages: 859-865
Publication year:2022
Keywords:Capsular serotype, Hypermucoviscosity, Hypervirulence, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Molecular epidemiology, Whole genome sequencing
Accessibility:Open