Heteroresistance to amikacin in Klebsiella aerogenes isolates from patients in an intensive care unit in Brazil

Abstract

Klebsiella aerogenes , an opportunistic human pathogen, is frequently implicated in severe and invasive infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. The growing prevalence of antibiotic resistance among these strains poses a significant therapeutic challenge. The phenomenon of heteroresistance further complicates management, potentially leading to diagnostic difficulties due to the lack of standardized detection methods and subsequent treatment failures. Our studies identified and characterized K. aerogenes strains heteroresistant to amikacin, isolated from patients in an intensive care unit. Such data can serve as a foundational reference for understanding the clinical relevance, genomic variability, and pathogenic potential of K. aerogenes heteroresistance to antibiotics used in clinical settings.