MedVetKlebs: Klebsiella pneumoniae from ecology to source attribution and transmission control

WHO' global report on antimicrobial resistance published in 2014 revealed as one of key challenges that the resistance to the treatment of last resort (carbapenem antibiotics) for life-threatening infections caused by a common intestinal bacteria, Klebsiella pneumoniae, has spread to all regions of the world. K. pneumoniae (hereafter, Kp) is a major cause of hospital-acquired infections such as pneumonia, bloodstream infections, infections in newborns and intensive-care unit patients. In some countries, because of resistance, carbapenem antibiotics would not work in more than half of people treated for Kp infections. MedVetKlebs is a multidisciplinary international project aiming to define the ecology of Kp and the sources of infections of humans and animals in order to investigate transmission routes and to find an optimal way to control them. MedVetKlebs objectives are: 1. To develop and to harmonize detection and isolation methods; 2. To ensure a broad sampling of ecological niches and deep sampling of potential sources; 3. To perform genomics analysis and transmission modeling, including development of new methods for source attribution and risk assessment. In order to achieve these objectives, MedVetKlebs brings together partners from different sectors (fundamental microbiology, medical, veterinary, food, environmental sectors, and bioinformatics) located in different European countries in order to ensure sufficient geographical coverage of sampling. Moreover, MedVetKlebs aims to develop an efficient scheme of dissemination and implementation of obtained results to all concerned parties and to general public. The main goal of MedVetKlebs will be improvement of public and animal health through a better control of Kp infections.