Molecular Epidemiology of Hypervirulent Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae

Abstract

Positive rates of virulence genes vary remarkably in <i>K. pneumoniae</i>. Genes <i>iucA</i>, <i>p-rmpA2</i> and <i>p-rmpA</i> were primary ones inducing Hv-<i>bla</i>_KPC(+)-KP. IncHI1B plasmids carrying virulence genes and IncFII ones with <i>bla</i>_KPC constitute the primary combination responsible for Hv-<i>bla</i>_KPC(+)-KP. The making of Hv-<i>bla</i>_KPC(+)-KP is mostly <i>via bla</i>_KPC(+)-KP acquiring another plasmid harboring virulence genes.