Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae among hospitalised patients in Cape Town, South Africa

The molecular epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) in Cape Town remains largely unknown. The effective deployment of new Beta-lactam-Beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations and other drugs requires ongoing surveillance as institutional prevalence of resistance determinants is constantly changing. This study aims to describe the molecular epidemiology, resistome, virulome and mobilome of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) within Cape Town to guide therapy, antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention and control practices.