Comparative Analysis of Clinical and Genomic Characteristics of Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae from Hospital and Community Settings: Experience from a Tertiary Healthcare Center in India

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) is a hypermucoviscous phenotype of classical Klebsiella pneumoniae (cKp) that causes serious infections in the community. The recent emergence of multidrug-resistant hvKp isolates (producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases and carbapenemases) along with other virulence factors in health care settings has become a clinical crisis. Here, we aimed to compare the distribution of virulence determinants and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes in relation to various sequence types (STs) among the clinical hvKp isolates from both settings, to reinforce our understanding of their epidemiology and pathogenic potential. A total of 120 K. pneumoniae isolates confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry were selected. hvKp was phenotypically identified by string test and genotypically confirmed by the presence of the iucA gene using PCR. Molecular characterization of hvKp isolates was done by whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Of the K. pneumoniae isolates, 11.6% (14/120) isolates were confirmed as hvKp by PCR (9.1% [11/120] string positive and 3.3% [4/120] positive by both methods); these were predominantly isolated from bloodstream infection (50%, 7/14), urinary tract infection (29%, 4/14), and respiratory tract infection (21%, 3/14). For all 14 hvKp infections, for 14.2% the source was in the community and for 85.7% the source was a health care setting. Two virulent plasmids were identified by WGS among the hvKp isolates from both settings. K64 was found to be the commonest capsular serotype (28.5%, 4/14), and ST2096 was the most common ST (28.5%, 4/14) by WGS. Two new STs were revealed: ST231 (reported to cause outbreaks) and ST43. The genome of one isolate was determined to be carrying AMR genes (bla(CTX-M-15), bla(NDM-1), bla(NDM-5), bla(OXA-181), bla(OXA-232), etc.) in addition to virulence genes, highlighting the clonal spread of hvKp in both community and health care settings. IMPORTANCE To date, studies comparing the genomic characteristics of hospital- and community-acquired hvKp were very few in India. In this study, we analyzed the clinical and genomic characteristics of hvKp isolates from hospital and community settings. ST2096 was found as the most common ST along with novel STs ST231 and ST43. Our study also revealed the genome is simultaneously carrying AMR as well as virulence genes in isolates from both settings, highlighting the emergence of MDR hvKp STs integrated with virulence genes in both community and health care settings. Thus, hvKp may present a serious global threat, and essential steps are needed to prevent its further dissemination.