A GROWING THREAT: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW ON THE ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND VIRULENCE FACTORS IN HYPERVIRULENT KLEBSIELLA PNEUMONIAE

Abstract

Background: A particularly dangerous strain of bacteria called hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) has been causing serious infections both in communities and hospitals with increasing frequency. What makes this especially concerning is the rise of a carbapenem-resistant version (CR-hvKp) — because for a long time, scientists assumed that when bacteria develop drug resistance, they tend to become less harmful. CR-hvKp breaks that rule entirely. Objectives: The researchers wanted to get a clearer global picture of how widespread hvKp and CR-hvKp actually are. They also looked at which antibiotics these strains resist, how they cause disease, which bacterial lineages are the most dangerous, and how infection with these strains affects patient outcomes. Methods: The team conducted an extensive, comprehensive evaluation of the literature using PRISMA standards, a standard methodology for systematic reviews. They examined research that was published in five significant scientific databases between 2013 and 2024: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Grey literature, science, and Embase. They concentrated on observational studies and meta-analyses that found hvKp using established techniques, including the "string test" for hypermucoviscosity or the identification of certain virulence genes. Conclusions: hvKp, especially in its drug-resistant variant, CR-hvKp, represents an increasing hazard to world health. It combines a remarkable ability to produce severe sickness with resistance to last-resort antibiotics, and it carries a high risk of mortality. To tackle it, stronger infection control measures in hospital settings, faster diagnostic tools, more intelligent treatment plans, and better tracking systems are all required.