Event

Presentation:

“Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae, an evolving public health threat”

A hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) pathotype is undergoing global dissemination. In contrast to the usual healthcare-associated epidemiology of classical K. pneumoniae (cKp) infections, hvKp causes tissue invasive infections in otherwise healthy individuals from the community. Infection often involves multiple sites that require source control (e.g. abscesses, necrotizing fasciitis) or locations that require site-specific therapy (e.g. endophthalmitis, meningitis). Initial strains of hvKp were antimicrobial susceptible, however, recently hvKp strains have been acquiring genes that encode extended-spectrum ß-lactamases and carbapenemases. The reverse direction of transfer also can occur. Recently an extensively drug-resistant (XDR) cKp strain acquired part of an hvKp virulence plasmid, thereby conferring it with a hypervirulent phenotype. The significance of this development is that hvKp is evolving into the ultimate “superbug” that is positioned to displace classical K. pneumoniae (cKp). The consequences will be lethal, as evidenced by the XDR hvKp ICU outbreaks described to date. The goal of this proposal is to increase our limited understanding of the factors and generate initial insights into the mechanisms responsible for hvKp’s hypervirulent phenotype. This, in turn, will enable logical strategies to prevent or treat infections due to this true superbug.

These informal talks are part of the GEM Work-in-Progress series held at 4:00 p.m. on the 4th Monday of each month. 2018 talks will take place in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Building, located on UB's Downtown Campus. The speaker schedule is on the GEM website (www.buffalo.edu/gem).

If you would like to present at a GEM Work-in-Progress session, let us know (coe-gem@buffalo.edu) and we will get you onto the schedule

Sr Thomas
Email: msthomas@buffalo.edu
Phone: 7168293890