Emergence and persistent spread of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae high-risk clones in Greek hospitals, 2013 to 2022

A new highly drug-resistant clone of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae had been detected in 12 of 15 Greek hospitals participating in a European genomic surveillance project in 2019. We looked at a collection of 10 carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae isolates per hospital to see how widely these bacteria had spread in 2022; such timely information could be used for infection prevention and control.

The carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae detected in Greek hospitals over a 10-year period mainly belonged to a small number of so-called ‘high-risk clones’ known for their antimicrobial resistance and capacity to spread in healthcare settings. We also noted that new high-risk clones have recently emerged and spread rapidly throughout hospitals in the country.

Infection prevention and control measures need to be enhanced immediately to prevent further spread of highly-drug resistant K. pneumoniae and similar resistant bacteria in hospitals. This study is a model for rapid national molecular surveillance studies that could also be applied in other countries and settings.