Cross-border spread of a mosaic resistance (OXA-48) and virulence (aerobactin) plasmid in Klebsiella pneumoniae: a European Antimicrobial Resistance Genes Surveillance Network investigation, Europe, February 2019 to October 2024

Euro Surveill. 2025 Jul;30(27):2500439. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.27.2500439.

Abstract

An investigation of the European Antimicrobial Resistance Genes Surveillance Network (EURGen-Net) detected the same mosaic IncHI1B(pNDM-MAR) resistance (OXA-48) and virulence (aerobactin) plasmid in 492 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from eight European Union countries during 2019-2024. Involvement of various K. pneumoniae sequence types (STs), multiple introductions, followed by large clonal outbreaks of three STs (ST147, ST392, ST45) carrying the plasmid in two countries indicate a high risk for further spread of this plasmid and a potential for difficult-to-treat K. pneumoniae infections to rise.

Keywords: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales; antimicrobial resistance; cross-border spread; surveillance; virulence; whole genome sequencing.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents* / pharmacology
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial* / genetics
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / genetics
  • Europe / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Hydroxamic Acids*
  • Klebsiella Infections* / drug therapy
  • Klebsiella Infections* / epidemiology
  • Klebsiella Infections* / microbiology
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae* / drug effects
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae* / genetics
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae* / isolation & purification
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae* / pathogenicity
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Plasmids* / genetics
  • Virulence / genetics
  • beta-Lactamases* / genetics

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • aerobactin
  • Hydroxamic Acids
  • beta-Lactamases