Overview of the epidemiology and the threat of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases (KPC) resistance

Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases (KPCs) confer resistance to nearly all β-lactams. This broad-spectrum drug resistance mechanism has rapidly spread in the United States and is reportedly increasing elsewhere in the world. Thus, the emergence of KPC resistance is a major threat to global health. This article reviews the epidemiology and provides an overview of the dissemination of KPC-producing organisms.