Genomic Characterization of Klebsiella pneumoniae Causing Invasive Disease in South African Infants: Observational Studies Between 2018 and 2023 - Summary - MDSpire

Genomic Characterization of Klebsiella pneumoniae Causing Invasive Disease in South African Infants: Observational Studies Between 2018 and 2023

  • By

  • Courtney P Olwagen

  • Alane Izu

  • Shama Khan

  • Stephanie Jones

  • Carmen Briner

  • Gaurav Kwatra

  • Lara Van der Merwe

  • Nicholas J Dean

  • Vicky L Baillie

  • Sana Mahtab

  • Kimberleigh Storath

  • Imaan Dunn

  • Lubomira Andrew

  • Urvi Rajyaguru

  • Firdose L Nakwa

  • Sithembiso C Velaphi

  • Jeannette Wadula

  • Renate Strehlau

  • Anika M van Niekerk

  • Niree Naidoo

  • Yogandree Ramsamy

  • Mohamed Said

  • Robert G K Donald

  • Raphael Simon

  • Ziyaad Dangor

  • Shabir A Madhi

  • January 20, 2026

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To genetically characterize Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates associated with invasive disease, including fatal cases, in South African infants over a 6-year period, highlighting its public health significance.

Key Findings:
  • Identified 85 distinct clonotypes with ST17 (22.0%) being the most prevalent.
  • 85% of isolates harbored multidrug resistant genes, including 32.9% resistant to carbapenems.
  • Dominant K-loci were KL25 (24.0%), KL2 (14.5%), and KL149 (13.4%).
  • Major O-antigens included O1αβ,2α (48.4%) and O5 (19.9%).
Interpretation:

The study highlights the significant genetic diversity of KPn in South Africa and the high prevalence of multidrug resistance, emphasizing the need for enhanced surveillance and potential vaccine development to inform public health policy.

Limitations:
  • Limited geographic scope may not represent the entire burden of KPn in South Africa, potentially affecting the generalizability of the findings.
  • Potential biases in data collection from observational studies could influence the results.
Conclusion:

The findings underscore the urgent need for genomic surveillance and targeted interventions to combat KPn infections in infants, particularly in low-middle-income countries, in light of rising antibiotic resistance.

Original Source(s)

Genomic Characterization of Klebsiella pneumoniae Causing Invasive Disease in South African Infants: Observational Studies Between 2018 and 2023

  • by Courtney P Olwagen, Alane Izu, Shama Khan, Stephanie Jones, Carmen Briner, Gaurav Kwatra, Lara Van der Merwe, Nicholas J Dean, Vicky L Baillie, Sana Mahtab, Kimberleigh Storath, Imaan Dunn, Lubomira Andrew, Urvi Rajyaguru, Firdose L Nakwa, Sithembiso C Velaphi, Jeannette Wadula, Renate Strehlau, Anika M van Niekerk, Niree Naidoo, Yogandree Ramsamy, Mohamed Said, Robert G K Donald, Raphael Simon, Ziyaad Dangor, Shabir A Madhi

  • January 20, 2026

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