Next-Generation Sequencing of Klebsiella Pneumoniae Isolated from Exudates: A Comprehensive Analysis of Antimicrobial and Virulence Genes, Serotypes, and Sequence Types

The global expansion of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Klebsiella pneumoniae represents a significant threat to clinical treatment success, often termed a "silent epidemic". This study utilized next-generation sequencing (NGS) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to characterize nine multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates recovered from patients with pyogenic infections. Results indicated that the blaCTX-M-15 gene was the most predominant resistance marker (88.88%), followed by blaOXA-1 and blaTEM-18 (77.77%), while the carbapenemase blaNDM-5 was present in 33.33% of isolates.Genomic analysis via multilocus sequence typing (MLST) identified ST-2096 and ST-985 as common sequence types, with KL-64 and KL-39 being the most prevalent capsular polysaccharide types. The investigation further detailed an extensive array of virulence genes, including the ybt and ent complexes, and identified key plasmid replicons such as IncFIB and IncFII. These findings highlight the emergence of hypervirulent (hvKp) global sequence types that also exhibit MDR. Ultimately, the molecular characterization provided by WGS is essential for understanding the epidemiology of bacterial strains, enabling the development of targeted antibiotic prescribing procedures and enhanced patient management strategies