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Genetic characterization of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream isolates with reduced susceptibility to cefiderocol

Wang M, Wu X, Yuan N, Li L, Zhang Z

Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology, 2026

Abstract

Objectives: To assess cefiderocol activity against carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) bloodstream isolates collected before local clinical introduction and to characterize the distribution of borderline MIC elevation across major genomic backgrounds.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 389 episodes of K. pneumoniae bloodstream infection at a tertiary hospital in China during 2018-2024. All 83 carbapenem-resistant isolates underwent cefiderocol broth microdilution testing and whole-genome sequencing. For epidemiological analysis, reduced susceptibility was prespecified as an MIC of 4-16 mg/L and was not intended to replace clinical breakpoint interpretation.

Results: CRKP accounted for 21.3% of K. pneumoniae bloodstream infections and remained associated with in-hospital mortality after adjustment for infection severity and source. By CLSI criteria, 83.1% of isolates were cefiderocol susceptible; the MIC50 and MIC90 were 4 and 8 mg/L, respectively, and 41.0% met the reduced-susceptibility definition. ST11 predominated, with KL47 and KL64 as the main capsular loci. Cefiderocol MICs were higher among KL47/KL64 and virulence-plasmid-associated isolates than among comparator backgrounds. In multivariable analysis, bla NDM-1, bla SHV-12, and the aerobactin locus remained associated with reduced susceptibility, although the findings require cautious interpretation because of limited sample size and possible effects of clonal background. No inactivating mutations…

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