Multifactorial chromosomal variants regulate polymyxin resistance in extensively drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae

ABSTRACT

Extensively drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (XDR-KP) infections cause high mortality and are disseminating globally. Identifying the genetic basis underpinning resistance allows for rapid diagnosis and treatment. XDR isolates sourced fromGreece and Brazil, including 19 polymyxin-resistant and five polymyxin-susceptible strains, were subjected to whole genomesequencing. Seventeen of the 19 polymyxin-resistant isolates harboured variations upstream or within mgrB. The mostcommon mutation identified was an insertion at nucleotide position 75 in mgrB via an ISKpn26-like element in the ST258lineage and ISKpn13 in one ST11 isolate. Three strains acquired an IS1 element upstream of mgrB and another strain had anISKpn25 insertion at 133 bp...