Clinical Significance of Gastrointestinal Carriage of Klebsiella Pneumoniae-Producing Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases in Kidney Graft Recipients

The impact of colonization by multidrug resistant bacteria on graft survival, risk of infection, and mortality in recipients of solid organ transplant: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The Global increase in colonization by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria poses a significant concern. The precise impact of MDR colonization in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR) remains not well established.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the impact of MDR colonization on SOTR's mortality, infection, or graft loss.

METHODS AND DATA SOURCES

Data from PROSPERO, OVID Medline, OVID EMBASE, Wiley Cochrane Library, ProQuest Dissertations, Theses Global, and SCOPUS were systematically reviewed, spanning from inception until 20 March 2023. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022290011) and followed the PRISMA guidelines. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, PARTICIPANTS, INTERVENTIONS, AND ASSESSMENT OF RISK OF BIAS: Cohorts and case-control studies that reported on adult SOTR colonized by Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) or carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. (CRE), or MDR-pseudomonas, and compared to noncolonized, were included. Two reviewers assessed eligibility, conducted a risk of bias evaluation using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and rated certainty of evidence using the GRADE approach.

METHODS OF DATA SYNTHESIS

We employed RevMan for a meta-analysis, using random-effects models to compute pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Statistical heterogeneity was determined using the I2 statistic.

RESULTS

15,202 SOTR (33 cohort, six case-control studies) were included, where liver transplant and VRE colonization (25 and 14 studies) were predominant. MDR colonization significantly increased posttransplant 1-year mortality (OR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.63-3.38) and mixed infections (OR, 10.74; 95% CI, 7.56-12.26) across transplant types (p < 0.001 and I2 = 58%), but no detected impact on graft loss (p 0.41, I2 = 0). Subgroup analysis indicated a higher association between CRE or ESBL colonization with outcomes (CRE: death OR, 3.94; mixed infections OR, 24.8; ESBL: mixed infections OR, 10.3; no mortality data) compared to MRSA (Death: OR, 2.25; mixed infection: OR, 7.75) or VRE colonization (Death: p 0.20, mixed infections: OR, 5.71).

CONCLUSIONS

MDR colonization in SOTR, particularly CRE, is associated with increased mortality. Despite the low certainty of the evidence, actions to prevent MDR colonization in transplant candidates are warranted.

Adult intracranial infection caused by an extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase-producing strain of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae: a case report

Background

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a conditional pathogen related to several infectious diseases. Few studies reported Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis in the Chinese population, guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of Klebsiella pneumoniae meningitis should be considered due to its high lethality. Here, we report a case of adult intracranial infection caused by extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) in a 65-year-old female, providing new insight for clinical awareness and epidemiological surveillance for ESBL-producing hvKP infection.

Case Description

A 65-year-old female who had a recurrent fever for more than 1 month, and vomiting for 1 week was admitted to our hospital. The computed tomography (CT) results and laboratory results indicated systematic infection, and the blood culture confirmed the infection of Klebsiella pneumoniae. A combination of antibiotics including vancomycin, caspofungin, dexamethasone, and posaconazole oral suspension was given to the patient. Further, she exhibited a convulsion with unconsciousness, the CT revealed lacunar infarction and encephalomalacia. The following physical examination showed slight neck resistance, a weak light response of the eye, low muscle tension, suspicious left Babinski sign (+), and right Babinski sign (−). The CT and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analyses confirmed the diagnosis of intracranial infection caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae. We employed CSF microbial metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) was employed and the results suggested the high sequence of Klebsiella pneumoniae with drug-resistant gene SHV-type beta-lactamases (blaSHV). Subsequently, 2 g meropenem every 8 hours (q8h) prolonged for 3 hours was applied to treat intracranial infection, and her body temperature and infectious manifestations were gradually relieved. The CT results represented that pulmonary edema and pleural effusion were gradually dissipated and absorbed. Based on the improvement of clinical manifestations, the patient was discharged from the hospital and a close follow-up was conducted.

Conclusions

An ESBL-producing strain of hvKP could lead to invasive infection such as severe intracranial infection, with a relatively favorable prognosis. The outcome of the disease caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae infection is firmly related to the phenotypic features, for instance, virulence factors and antibiotic susceptibility. Due to its high lethality, timely empiric anti-infection therapy and close surveillance are necessary for patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae infection in the clinic.

Urinary Tract Infections Caused by K. pneumoniae in Kidney Transplant Recipients – Epidemiology, Virulence and Antibiotic Resistance

Urinary tract infections are the most common complication in kidney transplant recipients, possibly resulting in the deterioration of a long-term kidney allograft function and an increased risk of recipient’s death. K. pneumoniae has emerged as one of the most prevalent etiologic agents in the context of recurrent urinary tract infections, especially with multidrug resistant strains. This paper discusses the epidemiology and risk factors associated with urinary tract infections in kidney transplant recipients, multi-drug resistance of K. pneumoniae (ESBL, KPC, NDM), treatment and pathogenesis of K. pneumoniae infections, and possible causes of recurrent UTIs. It also addresses the issue of colonization/becoming a carrier of K. pneumoniae in the gastrointestinal tract and asymptomatic bacteriuria in relation to a symptomatic UTI development and epidemiology.

Molecular Epidemiology, Natural History, and Long-Term Outcomes of Multidrug-Resistant Enterobacterales Colonization and Infections Among Solid Organ Transplant Recipients

BACKGROUND

Multidrug-resistant Enterobacterales (MDR-E), including carbapenem-resistant and third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE, CefR-E), are major pathogens following solid organ transplantation (SOT).

METHODS

We prospectively studied patients who underwent lung, liver, and small bowel transplant from February 2015 through March 2017. Weekly perirectal swabs (up to 100 days post-transplant) were cultured for MDR-E. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on gastrointestinal (GI) tract-colonizing and disease-causing isolates.

RESULTS

Twenty-five percent (40 of 162) of patients were MDR-E GI-colonized. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most common CRE and CefR-E. Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases and CTX-M were leading causes of CR and CefR, respectively. Thirty-five percent of GI colonizers developed MDR-E infection vs 2% of noncolonizers (P < .0001). The attack rate was higher among CRE colonizers than CefR-E colonizers (53% vs 21%, P = .049). GI colonization and high body mass index were independent risk factors for MDR-E infection (P ≤ .004). Thirty-day mortality among infected patients was 6%. However, 44% of survivors developed recurrent infections; 43% of recurrences were late (285 days to 3.9 years after the initial infection). Long-term survival (median, 4.3 years post-transplant) did not differ significantly between MDR-E-infected and MDR-E-noninfected patients (71% vs 77%, P = .56). WGS phylogenetic analyses revealed that infections were caused by GI-colonizing strains and suggested unrecognized transmission of novel clonal group-258 sublineage CR-K. pneumoniae and horizontal transfer of resistance genes.

CONCLUSIONS

MDR-E GI colonization was common following SOT and predisposed patients to infections by colonizing strains. MDR-E infections were associated with low short- and long-term mortality, but recurrences were frequent and often occurred years after initial infections. Findings provide support for MDR-E surveillance in our SOT program.

Screening for Antimicrobial-Resistant Gram-negative bacteria in hospitalised patients, and risk of progression from colonisation to infection: Systematic review

BACKGROUND

Transmission of antimicrobial-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (AMR-GNB) among hospitalised patients can lead to new cases of carriage, infection and outbreaks, hence the need for early carrier identification. We aim to explore two key elements that may guide control policies for colonisation/infection in hospital settings: screening practices on admission to hospital wards and risk of developing infection from colonisation.

METHODS

We searched on PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane databases for studies published from 2010 up to 2021 reporting on adult patients hospitalised in high-income countries.

RESULTS

The search retrieved 11853 articles. After screening, 100 studies were included. Combining target patient groups and setting type, we identified six screening approaches. The most reported approach was all admitted patients to high-risk (HR) wards (49.4%). The overall prevalence of AMR-GNB was 13.8% (95%CI 9.3-19.0) with significant differences across regions and time. Risk of progression to infection among colonised patients was 11.0% (95%CI 8.0-14.3) and varied according to setting and pathogens' group (p value<0.0001), with higher values reported for Klebsiella species (18.1%; 95%CI 8.9-29.3).

CONCLUSIONS

While providing a comprehensive overview of the screening approaches, our study underlines the considerable burden of AMR-GNB colonisation and risk of progression to infection in hospitals by pathogen, setting and time.

Temporal trends, risk factors and outcomes of infections due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing Enterobacterales in Swiss solid organ transplant recipients between 2012 and 2018

Background

The burden of antimicrobial resistance is high in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Among Swiss SOT recipients, we assessed temporal trends of ESBL-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E), identified risk factors for ESBL-E, and assessed the impact of resistance on patient outcome.

Methods

Data from the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study (STCS), a nationwide prospective cohort of SOT-recipients, were analysed. Temporal trends were described for ESBL-detection among Escherichia coli and non-Escherichia coli. In a nested case–control study, cases with ESBL-E infection were 1:1 matched (by time since transplantation, organ transplant, pathogen) to controls infected with non-ESBL-E. Factors associated with resistance and with unfavourable 30-day outcome (death, infection relapse, graft loss) were assessed.

Results

From 2012 to 2018, we identified 1′212 infection episodes caused by Enterobacterales in 1′074 patients, thereof 11.4% (138/1′212) caused by ESBL-E. The proportion of ESBL-production among Escherichia coli remained stable over time (p = 0.93) but increased for non-E. coli (p = 0.02) Enterobacterales. In the case–control study (n = 102), antibiotic pre-treatment was independently associated with ESBL-production (aOR = 2.6, 95%-CI: 1.0–6.8, p = 0.046). Unfavourable outcome occurred in 24/51 (47%) cases and 9/51 (18%) controls (p = 0.003). Appropriate empiric antibiotic therapy was the only modifiable factor associated with unfavourable outcome.

Conclusions

In Swiss SOT-recipients, proportion of infections with ESBL-producing non-E. coli Enterobacterales increased in recent years. Antibiotic pre-treatment represents a risk factor for ESBL-E. Improving appropriateness of empiric antibiotic treatment might be an important measure to reduce unfavourable outcome, which was observed in almost half of SOT-recipients with ESBL-E infections.

Faecal Microbiota Transplantation Eradicated Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae from a Renal Transplant Recipient with Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections

Renal transplant recipients (RTRs) are highly susceptible to infections, and antimicrobial resistance is an increasing problem with limited treatment options. Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is effective for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection and may be used for patients with intestinal carriage of multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms. We present a RTR who suffered from recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing (ESBL+) Klebsiella pneumoniae. Blood and urinary isolates revealed the same antibiotic susceptibility pattern, and whole-genome sequencing confirmed identical isolates in blood and urine. Despite several treatments with meropenem, the patient experienced recurrent infections that caused hospitalisation. ESBL+ K. pneumoniae was isolated in faeces. In an attempt to decolonise the gut, FMT was performed. A few days after nasojejunal infusion of donor faeces, the patient experienced a single relapse of UTI. During the subsequent 12 months, no further episodes of UTI occurred. Absence of ESBL+ K. pneumoniae in urine and faeces was demonstrated during follow-up. We conclude that FMT may be an effective treatment in RTRs with recurrent UTIs caused by intestinal colonisation with MDR organisms.