Antimicrobial Resistance and Genomic Characterization of OXA-48- and CTX-M-15-Co-Producing Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae ST23 Recovered from Nosocomial Outbreak

Multidrug resistance (MDR) and hypervirulence (hv) have been long considered distinct evolutionary traits for Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp), a versatile human pathogen. The recent emergence of Kp strains combining these traits poses a serious global threat. In this article, we describe the phenotypic and genomic characteristics of an MDR hvKp isolate, MAR14-456, representative of a nosocomial outbreak in Moscow, Russia, that was recovered from a postoperative wound in a patient who later developed multiple abscesses, fatal sepsis, and septic shock. Broth microdilution testing revealed decreased susceptibility of MAR14-456 to carbapenems (MICs 0.5–2 mg/L) and a high-level resistance to most β-lactams, β-lactam-β-lactamase-inhibitor combinations, and non-β-lactam antibiotics, except ceftazidime-avibactam, amikacin, tigecycline, and colistin. Whole-genome sequencing using Illumina MiSeq and ONT MinION systems allowed to identify and completely assemble two conjugative resistance plasmids, a typical ‘European’ epidemic IncL/M plasmid that carries the gene of OXA-48 carbapenemase, and an IncFIIK plasmid that carries the gene of CTX-M-15 ESBL and other resistance genes. MLST profile, capsular, lipopolysaccharide, virulence genes encoded on chromosome and IncHI1B/FIB plasmid, and the presence of apparently functional type I-E* CRISPR-Cas system were all characteristic of hvKp ST23, serotype K1-O1v2. Phylogenetic analysis showed the closest relatedness of MAR14-456 to ST23 isolates from China. This report highlights the threat of multiple resistance acquisition by hvKp strain and its spread as a nosocomial pathogen.