Molecular analysis of virulence factors of hypermucoviscous Klebsiella pneumoniae in a diabetes patient with multifocal intramuscular and musculoskeletal abscesses

Abstract

Unusual community-acquired invasive Klebsiella pneumoniae infection has been reported worldwide, particularly in Asia. Recently, several virulence-associated genes of the isolates have been investigated. We report a case of multifocal intramuscular and musculoskeletal abscesses caused by K. pneumoniae in a 61-year-old male diabetes patient. A string test of the K. pneumoniae isolate, which was recovered from abscesses obtained by surgical debridement and drainage, was positive. We used whole-genome sequencing to analyze the virulence-associated gene profile of the isolate. The isolate belonged to the K2 genotype with sequence type 375. The isolate harbored rmpA and rmpA2, which induce serum resistance (hypermucoviscosity). The isolate also carried siderophores, i.e., aerobactin and salmochelin, which are associated with enhanced bacterial growth. The isolate did not harbor K1-unique virulence factors, such as colibactin, microcin, and yersiniabactin. Our K2 strain harbored a combination of virulence plasmid-associated genes-rmpA/A2 and siderophores (aerobactin and salmochelin). Hence, we advocate that essential molecular virulence factors of isolates that cannot be identified by a string test and capsular serotyping alone may exist.

Keywords: Hypermucoviscous Klebsiella pneumoniae; Intramuscular/musculoskeletal abscesses; Virulence genes; Whole-genome sequencing.