Affiliation:
1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Bacterial infections pose a significant global health threat, accounting for an estimated 7.7 million deaths. Hospital outbreaks driven by multi-drug-resistant pathogens, notably
Klebsiella pneumoniae
(
K. pneumoniae
), are of grave concern. This opportunistic pathogen causes pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and bacteremia, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. The rise of hypervirulent
K. pneumoniae
adds complexity, as it increasingly infects healthy individuals. Recent epidemiological data suggest that asymptomatic gastrointestinal carriage serves as a reservoir for infections in the same individual and allows for host-to-host transmission
via
the fecal-oral route. This review focuses on
K. pneumoniae
’s gastrointestinal colonization, delving into epidemiological evidence, current animal models, molecular colonization mechanisms, and the protective role of the resident gut microbiota. Moreover, the review sheds light on
in vivo
high-throughput approaches that have been crucial for identifying
K. pneumoniae
factors in gut colonization. This comprehensive exploration aims to enhance our understanding of
K. pneumoniae
gut pathogenesis, guiding future intervention and prevention strategies.
Funder
HHS | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
HHS | NIH | National Institute of General Medical Sciences
Publisher
American Society for Microbiology