Emergence of resistance to colistin during the treatment of bloodstream infection caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae

Abstract

We report the emergence of colistin resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae after 8 days of colistin-based therapy, resulting in relapse of bloodstream infection and death. Disruption of the mgrB gene by insertion of a mobile genetic element was found to be the mechanism, which was replicated in vitro after exposure to subinhibitory concentrations of colistin and meropenem.