已发表论文

肺炎克雷伯菌异质性耐药临床意义的最新研究进展

 

Authors Fang J, Lai H, Chen H, Tao Z, Cheng N, Xiang T 

Received 12 May 2025

Accepted for publication 16 November 2025

Published 26 November 2025 Volume 2025:18 Pages 6191—6202

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/IDR.S539920

Checked for plagiarism Yes

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 3

Editor who approved publication: Dr Hemant Joshi

Jianhua Fang,1,2,* Hongyi Lai,3,* Huade Chen,1,2,* Zhibo Tao,4 Na Cheng,1,2 Tianxin Xiang1,2,5 

1Infectious Disease Department, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330052, People’s Republic of China; 2Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330052, People’s Republic of China; 3The First Clinical Medical College, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, People’s Republic of China; 4Clinical Laboratory Section, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330052, People’s Republic of China; 5Jiangxi Medical Center for Critical Public Health Events, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330052, People’s Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Tianxin Xiang, Email ndyfy02258@ncu.edu.cn Na Cheng, Email chengnah@sina.com

Abstract: Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP), a clinically significant Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen, has emerged as one of the predominant causative agents of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). This bacterium is responsible for various severe clinical manifestations, including pneumonia, urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, and sepsis. In recent years, the global prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) K. pneumoniae strains has been escalating rapidly. Epidemiological surveillance data reveal a persistent upward trend in infections caused by MDR microorganisms worldwide, a phenomenon disproportionately prevalent in resource-limited developing countries. This trend presents formidable challenges to clinical infection management and constitutes a critical threat to global public health security. In the context of bacterial antibiotic resistance, the phenomenon of heteroresistance (HR) has attracted growing scientific attention due to its unique clinical significance. HR is characterized by the coexistence of subpopulations within a clonal (ie, genetically similar) bacterial population that exhibit divergent susceptibility profiles to an antimicrobial agent. This subtle phenotypic heterogeneity is considered a crucial precursor to the development of stable, high-level antibiotic resistance, representing a pivotal transitional phase in the evolution of MDR. The clinical importance of HR is twofold: first, the resistant subpopulations are often missed by conventional antimicrobial susceptibility testing, potentially leading to unexpected treatment failure. Second, HR serves as an early warning indicator for the impending emergence of complete resistance.

Keywords: heterogeneous drug resistance, Klebsiella pneumoniae, clinical research