Colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in Surgical Polytrauma Intensive Care Unit of Level-1 Trauma Center: First Case Series from Trauma Patients in India

INTRODUCTION: There have been isolated case reports and reports of outbreak of colistin-resistant Klebsiella from various parts of the world but only two from India and that too from oncology centers. We report cluster of colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia bloodstream infection cases from our surgical trauma Intensive Care Unit. METHODOLOGY: The study was carried out in surgical ICU of Level-I trauma center. Retrospective analysis of all the five patients with CRK was done. Demographic data, antibiotic exposure throughout the hospital stay, hospital course, and clinical outcome were analyzed. RESULTS: Out of 5 patients, 4 were young males (mean age of 23.5 years) without comorbidities and had undergone exploratory laparotomy following blunt trauma abdomen. 3 patients were chronic patients and had been on carbapenem and colistin 11–20 days before isolation whereas 2 patienst had isolation of CRK just within 7 days of admission. Out of the five patients, 3 patients survived and 2 had fatal outcome. CONCLUSIONS: CRK is an emerging and challenging pathogen in polytrauma victims. There was an outbreak of CRK in our ICU that could be contained with infection control measures.