BMC Infectious Diseases (Jul 2019)

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae from bloodstream infections in a tertiary referral center in Italy

  • Lucia Brescini,
  • Gianluca Morroni,
  • Chiara Valeriani,
  • Sefora Castelletti,
  • Marina Mingoia,
  • Serena Simoni,
  • Annamaria Masucci,
  • Roberto Montalti,
  • Marco Vivarelli,
  • Andrea Giacometti,
  • Francesco Barchiesi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-019-4268-9
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 19, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Abstract Background Bloodstream infections (BSI) due to Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing K. pneumoniae (KPC-Kp) have become an important problem and they are associated with a high mortality rate. The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of KPC-Kp from BSIs. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, conducted in a tertiary referral center in Italy, 112 patients with KPC-Kp BSIs diagnosed between February 2011 and December 2015 were identified. We evaluated the mortality at 30 days from the first positive blood culture. Survivor and non-survivor subgroups were compared to identify predictors of mortality. Results The overall crude mortality was 35%. APACHE II score ≥ 15, septic shock at BSI onset, immunosuppressive therapy during the 30 days before the BSI onset, and the lack of a combination therapy with at least 2 active drugs emerged as independent predictors of mortality. Excluding patients with inadequate therapy, the mortality decreased to 25% while an APACHE II score ≥ 15 and the presence of septic shock remained independently associated with a negative outcome. Two different pulsotypes were identified: pulsotype A belonged to ST512 and carried KPC-3 and pulsotype B belonged to ST307 and carried KPC-2. Conclusions This study confirmed a high mortality rate of KPC-Kp BSIs. The outcome is heavily influenced by the patient’s clinical conditions. A therapeutic approach including a combination with at least two active drugs in vitro can improve the prognosis, unless patients received an appropriate therapy.

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