Emergence of OXA-48-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in Lithuania, 2023: a multi-cluster, multi-hospital outbreak

Abstract

In 2023, an increase of OXA-48-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae was noticed by the Lithuanian National Public Health Surveillance Laboratory. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of 106 OXA-48-producing K. pneumoniae isolates revealed three distinct clusters of carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae high-risk clones, including sequence type (ST) 45 (n=35 isolates), ST392 (n=32) and ST395 (n=28), involving six, six and nine hospitals in different regions, respectively. These results enabled targeted investigation and control, and underscore the value of national WGS-based surveillance for antimicrobial resistance.