Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae: A case series from tertiary care centre

Abstract

Considered the new public threat, hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) has shown its prevalence in the Asia Pacific rim. It was first reported in Taiwan in 1986.Within the next few decades it became a cause of concern because of its pathogenicity and the panoptic nature of organs affected, and high mortality, especially in healthy individuals. The wide range of clinical picture includes hepatic abscess, distant metastases, pneumonia, necrotizing fasciitis, endophthalmitis, and meningitis. This case series aims to find such cases in Southern India and study the pattern, to provide an insight into hvKp and its prognosis and therapeutic strategies. It is a descriptive study performed in our medical college hospital where selective cases of microbiologically proven Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae were studied. An expert-validated structured proforma was used to obtain the information after obtaining permission from the authorities. It is imperative to identify risk factors, clinical features and management of hvKp cases globally, especially with the recent increase in its incidence. The emphasis should be mainly on the prevention of the infection in the community and healthcare facilities by actively working towards it.