Characteristics and Clinical Implications of Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Colonization and Infection, Italy

Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae (KPC-Kp) has been endemic in Italy since 2013. In a multicenter cohort study, we investigated various aspects of KPC-Kp among patients, including 15-day mortality rates and delays in adequate therapy. Most (77%) KPC-Kp strains were sequence types ST512 or ST307. During 2017, KPC-Kp prevalence was 3.26 cases/1,000 hospitalized patients. Cumulative incidence of KPC-Kp acquired >48 hours after hospital admission was 0.68% but varied widely between centers. Among patients with mild infections and noninfected colonized patients, 15-day mortality rates were comparable, but rates were much higher among patients with severe infections. Delays of >4 days in receiving adequate therapy more frequently occurred among patients with mild infections than those with severe infections, and delays were less common for patients with known previous KPC-Kp colonization. Italy urgently needs a concerted surveillance system to control the spread of KPC-Kp.