SRA

Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp), a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family, has emerged over the past few decades as a dual risk pathogen. First, multidrug resistance Kp (MDR-Kp) strains rank amongst the bacterial pathogens that are the most difficult to treat, due to cumulative acquisition of antimicrobial resistance genetic elements. Second, community acquired infections caused by hypervirulent Kp (HV-Kp) have emerged initially in Asia and are now observed worldwide. Community Kp infections are often associated with a poor prognosis even in young, healthy adults. Currently, the underlying factors for global emergence and spread of HV-Kp and MDR-Kp strains are poorly understood, and as a consequence few control strategies exist for such infections. Although human gut carriage of Kp is well documented, its role as a reservoir and primary source of high-risk infections remains to be characterized precisely. The objectives of this study are to investigate human intestinal carriage of Kp, and in particular high-risk Kp clones, and to define risk factors of Kp carriage.