Highly Virulent Strains of Superbug Identified in the US and 15 Other Nations
Dangerous new strains of a “hypervirulent” superbug have been identified in 16 countries, including the United States, according to a recent World Health Organization (WHO) report.
The superbug, known as hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp), is a type of drug-resistant bacteria that can cause severe, rapidly progressing infections, even in individuals with otherwise healthy immune systems. Unlike the classic K. pneumoniae, which is commonly found in environments like soil and water and can cause infections in healthcare settings, the hypervirulent strains present a broader threat due to their aggressive nature.
Typically, K. pneumoniae is inherently resistant to the antibiotic ampicillin and has increasingly developed resistance to additional drugs over recent years. However, the hypervirulent variety is particularly concerning as it can cause serious infections in otherwise healthy individuals. These infections can advance quickly, leading to a high rate of complications and mortality, according to CIDRAP News.
First detected in Asia during the 1980s, hvKp strains were initially susceptible to various antibiotics. However, they have since spread worldwide and now exhibit resistance to both older and newer classes of antibiotics. Notably, some strains have developed resistance to carbapenems, a critical class of antibiotics used to treat multi-drug-resistant infections. Dr. Amesh Adalja from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security emphasized that combining carbapenem resistance with hypervirulence significantly increases the risk of severe illness and death.
The WHO’s recent report, which followed a global request for information on K. pneumoniae prevalence, revealed that out of 43 countries and territories surveyed, 16 reported the presence of hvKp. Twelve of these countries reported finding a particularly troubling strain, ST23, which is resistant to carbapenems and all available beta-lactam antibiotics. While the U.S. reported cases of hvKp, it did not specifically identify ST23.
The WHO highlighted that the actual prevalence of hvKp infections might be underestimated due to current surveillance limitations. There is an urgent need to improve awareness and expand testing to better track and manage these superbugs. Accurate identification of hvKp is crucial for selecting effective treatments and managing outbreaks both in communities and healthcare settings. The WHO concluded that the combination of hypervirulence and antibiotic resistance is likely to lead to increased spread and risk of hvKp infections.
