Proceedings

Antimicrobial Resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae

Strains: Mechanisms and Outbreaks †
Celeste Moya * and Sergi Maicas
Departament de Microbiologia i Ecologia, Universitat de València, 46100 Burjassot, Spain; sergi.maicas@uv.es
* Correspondence: ceromova@alumni.uv.es; Tel.: +34-963-543-214
† Presented at the 1st International Electronic Conference on Microbiology, 2–30 November 2020.
Available online: https://ecm2020.sciforum.net/.

Published: 23 December 2020

Abstract: The enterobacteria that produce β-lactamases are the main focus of infections in the
healthcare environment. This is due to the difficulty they present in terms of treatment, their ease
of transmission, and the impact they represent at the economic and personal level. The bacteria of
greatest clinical relevance are those with resistance to third and fourth generation cephalosporins,
extended spectrum β-lactamase and AmpC. Currently, carbapenemics are one of the few
antimicrobials effective against multi-drug resistant organisms. However, the emergence of
carbapenem-resistant enterobacteria has increased health concerns. These microorganisms include
K. pneumoniae, a pan-resistant bacteria with high morbidity and mortality rates in public health
facilities. In this work, we have carried out a review on the antimicrobial resistance genes found in
its genome, as well as the resistance mechanisms involved. Finally, we will focus on the main
outbreaks causing nosocomial infections during the last few years.

Keywords: multi-drug resistant organisms; extended spectrum β-lactamase; cephalosporins;

carbapenem-resistant enterobacteria

1. Introduction
Klebsiella pneumoniae is an encapsulated Gram-negative bacillus belonging to the
Enterobacteriaceae family. It was first described in 1882 by Carl Friedlander, from lung tissues of dead
pneumonia patients. It presents a mucoid phenotype in media such as MacConkey or eosin
methylene blue agars. Moreover, it is capable of fermenting lactose and mannitol, and reducing
nitrate to nitrite. K. pneumoniae is a bacterium able to infect humans, causing different types of
infections, including respiratory and urinary tract infections, soft tissue infections, surgical wounds
and sepsis. After E. coli, K. pneumoniae is the second most important opportunistic enterobacterium
causing nosocomial and community infections. However, it is a ubiquitous species in nature, although
environmental strains are more susceptible to antibiotics than clinical ones. It is a consequence of the
selection pressure exerted by antibiotics in health care settings [1].
The pangenome of K. pneumoniae (total set of genes) is approximately 5.5 Mbp in size and codes
for an average of 5500 genes. More than 30,000 unique sequences have been identified that code for
different proteins. However, it is still an open pangenome, in which there are accessory genes that
have not yet been characterized [1,2]. Its core genome (set of genes shared by all members of the
species) is composed of approximately 2000 genes. These genes have been determined by examining
their presence in more than 95% of the isolates from that species [1,2]. The accessory genome contains
genes that vary between bacteria of the same species. This includes both chromosomally encoded
genes and those located in the mobile genetic elements. In K. pneumoniae, most of the genome is made
up of accessory genes. This allows their classification into different strains, and different pathotypes

Proceedings 2020, 66, 11; doi:10.3390/proceedings2020066011 www.mdpi.com/journal/proceedings

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can be catalogued in the clinical setting [opportunistic, Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteria (CRE)

or hypervirulent (hv) bacteria] (Figure 1) [1].

Figure 1. K. pneumoniae, K. variicola and K. quasipneumoniae are three species that share a set of
accessory genes. Ent (Enterobactin, blue) and Fimbriae (dark green) represent conserved genes. The
accessory genes are shown as examples, they are not a definitive list. The evolutionary tree is not
drawn to scale [1].

These accessory genes can also be combined to form new pathotypes (hvCRE) as they can be
shared between species by THG [1,2]. Therefore, the accessory genome reveals the virulence of a
bacterium and its study is essential to understand the clinical features of an infectious disease.
Moreover, this type of genome can evolve due to the changes in the genome of the pathogen, or by
the acquisition of new genes for resistance or variation in its expression. Table 1 shows K. pneumoniae
genes that determine the development of antimicrobial resistance with their respective enzymes or
target molecules [3]. The high number of genes encoding for β-lactamases supports that they are
crucial to the antibiotic resistance.
In recent decades, K. pneumoniae has acquired a wide variety of antibiotic resistance mechanisms
and, thus, the nosocomial infections it can cause are particularly problematic. This increases the
complexity of detecting resistant strains and assigning the appropriate treatment for each bacterium.
In a healthcare center, there are several potential foci that facilitate the transmission of K. pneumoniae
such as: person-to-person contact between health workers and patients, contaminated surfaces,
instrumentation, and some medical techniques (endoscopy). Diseases that weaken the patient, such
as cancer, diabetes mellitus, some neurological disorders, or fluid and electrolyte disorders may be
classified as risk factors for infection. Despite K. pneumoniae being part of the normal microbiota of the
intestine, it is able to colonize other mucosal surfaces, including the nasopharyngeal, urinary, and
gastrointestinal tracts, leading to serious infectious diseases in immunocompromised patients [1].
Proceedings 2020, 66, 11 3 of 6

Table 1. Antimicrobial resistance genes in the genome of K. pneumoniae [1].

β-Lactamases bla genes conferring resistance (* intrinsic)

Class A CARB-3, PSE-1, SCO-1, SHV-1 *, TEM-1
- ESBL CTX-M, SHV-5, TEM-10, VEB
- Carbapenemase KPC, GES-5 Class B Metallo
- β-lactamase CphA, IMP, NDM, SIM, VIM Class C
(Cephalosporinase) AmpC, CMY, DHA, FOX, MIR
Class D OXA-1, OXA-2, OXA-7, OXA-9, OXA-10, OXA-12
- ESBL OXA-11, OXA-15
Carbapenemase OXA-48, OXA-51, OXA-181, OXA-237
Other AMR Genes conferring resistance (* intrinsic) Mutations
Aminoglycosides aac, aadA, aadB, aph, armA, rmt, strAB -
(see carbapenemase bla genes, class A and D
Carbapenems Mutations in ompK35, ompK36
above)
Inactivation of pmrB, mgrB; mutations
Colistin mcr-1, mcr1.2
in crrB Fluoroquinolones
oqxAB efflux Macrolides ereA, ereB, ermB, mef, mph, msrE -
Phenicols catA, catB, cml, floR Rifampin
Sulfonamides folP, sul1, sul2, sul3 -
Tetracycline tet genes -
Upregulation of acrAB or oqxAB
Tigecycline -
efflux; mutation in rpsJ
Trimethoprim dfr genes -

2. Main Resistance Mechanisms in K. pneumoniae

K. pneumoniae has experienced an increase in resistance to different families of antibiotics. Most
of these antibiotic resistance mechanisms (AMR) have been acquired through horizontal gene transfer
(HGT) conferring high level resistance to antibiotics of the type β-lactams and quinolones.
(a) Mechanisms of antibiotic resistance to β-lactam antibiotics
One of the resistance mechanisms in K. pneumoniae consists in the alteration of penicillin binding
proteins (PBPs), enzymes that catalyze peptidoglycan synthesis and specific target of the β-lactam
antibiotics. Modifications in their structure decrease the affinity of PBPs for the β-lactam antibiotics,
increasing resistance to them [4,5]. Moreover, outer membrane (OM) permeability modifications are
critical in K. pneumoniae resistance (hydrophilic drugs). OM is a barrier that must be crossed before it
can bind to PBPs [5]. The antibiotic molecules must use porins (OmpK35 and OmpK36), which are
reduced in number or modified, decreasing the permeability of the membrane [4,6]. Another common
mechanism in K. pneumoniae strains are active ejection pumps like AcrAB and OqxAB pumps [4].
(b) Quinolone resistance
Mechanisms of fluoroquinolone resistance are due to point mutations in specific areas of DNA
gyrase (genes gyrA and gyrB) and topoisomerase IV (genes parC and parE), called quinolone
resistance determining region. The first target for quinolone resistance in Gram-negative micro-
organisms is gyrA and then parC. Several simultaneous mutations in these genes increase high level
resistance [7]. In addition, resistance mechanisms acquired by mobile genetic elements, such as the
acquisition of Qnr (quinolone resistance) proteins that protect DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV.
Altered permeability and the presence of efflux pumps are also mechanisms involved in quinolone
resistance [8,9].

3. Outbreaks Caused by Resistant Strains of K. pneumoniae

More than 100 different AMR acquired genes have been identified in K. pneumoniae. The
presence of SHV-1 penicillinase on the chromosome confers intrinsic resistance to ampicillin,
amoxicillin and ticarcillin [2]. Resistance of enterobacteria to the β-lactam antibiotics is associated to
the presence of genes encoding for β-lactamases [2,3]. These β-lactamases are frequently encoded by
the bla genes and are part of the CTX-M, TEM, SHV and OXA families, sharing different hydrolytic
profiles [2]. In the TEM family, mutations of individual nucleotides in genes encoding β-lactamases
Proceedings 2020, 66, 11 4 of 6

of the TEM-1 type change the phenotype of BLEE. A wide diversity of members of the TEM family is
known, which facilitates the search for transmission of individual resistance genes between strains
[2,10]. The amino acid sequence of the SHV-1 family has a high rate of coincidence with TEM-1,
sharing its molecular structure. The CTX-M family shows greater activity against cefotaximes than
cephtazidime (third-generation cephalosporins), because of the geometry of the antibiotic binding site,
which allows efficient recognition of cefotaxime, but not of cephtazidime (a larger molecule). The CTX-
M producing strains have the same clinical implications as the production of other BLEE. Nowadays,
the number of variants of this family is increasing [2,10]. The main members of the OXA family show
low level hydrolytic activity towards clavulanic acid and high level towards carbapenemes. They are
the most complex strains to detect and, due to their extensive resistance to β-lactams, therapy has been
limited, resulting in high mortality (conditioned by host, type of infection and treatment
administered). OXA-48 producing K. pneumoniae is dangerously common in healthcare centers. These
are the strains that cause most of the bacteremia outbreaks in hospitals throughout Europe and the
Middle East.
The European Commission and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
(ECDC) have proposed to increase surveillance and control of outbreaks, in order to reduce the impact
of infectious diseases caused by multi-drug resistant organisms on the population [2,10,11]. K.
pneumoniae resistant strains to multiple drugs are being more frequently isolated, and this leads to the
phenotyping techniques becoming little sensitive or unspecific, making it difficult to identify the
strain causing the nosocomial disease. Table 2 shows the main families of plasmids that confer
resistance to clinically relevant antibiotics, such as extended spectrum cephalosporins,
fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides. The number of references obtained for TEM, KPC and CTX-
M type enzymes is very high compared to the rest of the enzymes, supporting their importance for
the health field and the scientific community. In the 1970s, most outbreaks of healthcare associated
infections (HAI) caused by K. pneumoniae were due to aminoglycoside resistant strains. Between 1990
and 2000, outbreaks caused by BLEE producing strains were described, while those caused by
carbapenemic resistant strains were described from 2000 onwards. Today, strains producing
carbapenemics such as KPC and NDM-1, are significant in clinical practice [11].
On the one hand, K. pneumoniae NDM-1 is a zinc dependent metalo-β-lactamase that was first
identified in 2009 from a New Delhi patient. This enzyme, anchored to the external membrane, can
capture the zinc present in the host. In addition, vesicles can carry the active enzyme NDM-1 by
exocytosis. Therefore, it can reach other bacteria and bind to the membrane acting as if it were also
expressed by other bacteria, making them temporarily resistant [12]. Furthermore, NDM-1 is encoded
by the plasmid gene blaNMD-1 and can reach other strains through HGT. Strains producing this
enzyme hydrolyze all β-lactam antibiotics, except aztreonam. Among the possible inhibitors studied,
hesperidins show high activity against NDM-1. Due to the low toxicity hesperidins contain, they are
on the list of possible NDM-1 inhibitor drugs [12]. Since 2009, nearly 650 articles have been reported
in PubMed on the presence of NDM-1 in Klebsiella.
On the other hand, KPC is an enzyme capable of conferring resistance to carbapenemics, as well
as inactivating penicillins, cephalosporins or monobactamics. It was first identified in 2001 in the
United States from a superbug that had suffered a mutation that conferred resistance to multiple
drugs [13]. Bacteria with KPC enzymes are more virulent because they have acquired resistance to
multiple antibiotics, leading to a high mortality rate in immunocompromised patients. Research
confirms that previous use of carbapenemics increases the likelihood of a patient developing a HAI
caused by KPC-producing bacteria [13]. However, there is some controversy in the scientific
community about this claim, as a study on the clinical impact of carbapenemically resistant K.
pneumoniae concluded that previous use of fluoroquinolone and broad-spectrum cephalosporin was
independent of infections with KPC producing organisms [14].
Proceedings 2020, 66, 11 5 of 6

Table 2. Review of resistant plasmid families associated with AmpC, BLEE, 16S rRNA methylases,
Qnr proteins and MBLs in K. pneumoniae.

Enzyme Replicons No of Plasmids Genbank References

CMY-8 (CTX-M-3) HI2 1 3
CMY-36 ColE 1 7
CTX-M-3 (ArmA) L/M 73 11
HI2 68
CTX-M-9 P 10 636
I1 8
CTX-M-14 FII, FIB 13 11,375
FII, FIA, FIB 152
CTX-M-15 [TEM-1, AAC(6′)-IB-CR] 17
NT 22

CTX-M-17 ColE 1 5
CTX-M-62 NT 1 5
L/M 118
SHV-5 397
FII, FIB 2

I1 12
K 5
SHV-12 1189
FII, FIB 9

FIIK 1
TEM-1 ColE 2 67,442
N 1
KPC-2 29,077
ColE 1

L/M 22
IMP-4 (QnrB2, QnrB-4, ArmA) 1888
A/C 15

I1 17
VIM-1 N 15 2379
NT 1
VIM-4 (CMY-4) ArmA A/C 2 5

4. Conclusions
The massive and uncontrolled use of antimicrobials in clinical practice (mainly the β-lactam
type) has contributed to the accelerated development of antimicrobial resistance. The increase in
nosocomial infections caused by BLEE-producing enterobacteria such as K. pneumoniae is generating a
global economic stress due to the numerous treatments that have been compromised. Therefore, the
main objective is not to expand the therapeutic arsenal, but to develop other techniques far from the
direct use of antimicrobials, reducing the effects and impact of multi-drug resistant organisms on the
population.

Author Contributions: Conceptualization S.M., formal analysis, C.M., writing C.M., S.M. All authors have read
and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Abbreviations
ESBL Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase
Proceedings 2020, 66, 11 6 of 6

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