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Overview of the epidemiology and the threat of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases (KPC) resistance

Authors Chen L, Anderson, Paterson D

Received 2 August 2012

Accepted for publication 22 August 2012

Published 24 September 2012 Volume 2012:5 Pages 133—141

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/IDR.S26613

Checked for plagiarism Yes

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 2



Luke F Chen,1–4 Deverick J Anderson,1–4 David L Paterson5

1
Duke Program for Infection Prevention and Healthcare Epidemiology, 2Duke Infection Control Outreach Network, 3Duke University Prevention Epicenter Program, 4Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA; 5University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR), Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Campus, Brisbane, Australia

Abstract: Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases (KPCs) confer resistance to nearly all ß-lactams. This broad-spectrum drug resistance mechanism has rapidly spread in the United States and is reportedly increasing elsewhere in the world. Thus, the emergence of KPC resistance is a major threat to global health. This article reviews the epidemiology and provides an overview of the dissemination of KPC-producing organisms.

Keywords: beta-lactam resistance, carbapenemase, drug resistance, epidemiology, treatment failure

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