Prevalence, risk factors and molecular epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in patients from Zhejiang, China, 2008–2018

Abstract

Carbapenem-resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> (CRKP) is emerging as a worldwide public health concern; however, the long-term molecular epidemiological surveillance of clinical CRKP in China is limited. We conducted a retrospective observational study (2008-2018) to assess the prevalence, susceptibility, risk factors and molecular epidemiology of clinical CRKP isolates. We found the prevalence of CRKP increased from 2.5%, 2008 to 15.8%, 2018. CRKP were significantly more frequent among hospitalized patients from ICU, and it was significantly more likely to be isolated from the capital city (Hangzhou) and the patients aged ≥60 years. Additionally, seasons and specimen types were associated with CRKP infections<i>.</i> The main CRKP sequence type (ST) was ST11, and <i>bla</i> _KPC-2 was the most prevalent gene variant. Together these data reveal an increasing incidence and resistance trends among CRKP, especially the ST11-<i>bla</i> _KPC-2-CRKP, in Zhejiang, during 2008-2018. Our findings are important for hospitals to limit its dissemination and optimize antibiotic administration.