Characterization of an emergent high-risk KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae lineage causing a fatal wound infection after spine surgery


doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.105122.


Online ahead of print.

Affiliations

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Luana Boff et al.


Infect Genet Evol.


.

Abstract

Surgical site infections in instrumented posterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery are normally due to gram-positive bacteria, but gram-negative bacteria can cause infections in cases involving lower lumbar interventions as its closer to the perianal area. Here we report an uncommon fatal wound infection caused by a multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae after an elective spine surgery. In silico analysis revealed that LWI_ST16 belonged to ST16, an emergent international clone notable for its increased virulence potential. We also observed that this strain carried a conjugative IncF plasmid encoding resistance genes to beta-lactams (blaKPC-2 and blaOXA-1), tetracycline (tetA), aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones (aac(6′)-Ib-cr). The carbapenemase encoding gene blaKPC-2 was located on a Tn4401e transposon previously characterized to increase blaKPC expression. LWI_ST16 is a strong biofilm producer on polystyrene and capable of forming tower-like structures on a titanium device like the one inserted in the patient’s spine. Our findings strengthen the valuable contribution of continuous surveillance of multidrug-resistant and high-risk K. pneumoniae clones to avoid unfavourable clinical outcomes.


Keywords:

Biofilm; Carbapenemase; High-risk clone; KPC-2; Klebsiella pneumoniae; ST16.

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this article.

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