Klebsiella pneumoniae with Capsule Type K64 Overrepresented Among Invasive Disease in Vietnam

Strategic Insights -

Research at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Hanoi, Vietnam, has identified a significant correlation between Klebsiella pneumoniae with capsule type K64 and invasive disease in the community. The study, which involved isolating and analyzing 93 K. pneumoniae samples from hospitalized patients and 110 commensal isolates from healthy volunteers, found that capsule type K64 was predominantly seen among invasive K. pneumoniae, with eight isolates identified from sepsis and meningitis patients.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study identified 93 K. pneumoniae isolates from patients hospitalized at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi between 2007 and 2011 and 110 commensal isolates from throat swabs of healthy volunteers living in rural and urban Hanoi in 2012.
  • The most common detected capsule types were K1 (39/203, 19.2%, mainly ST23) and K2 (31/203, 15.3%, multiple STs: ST65, ST86, ST380).
  • Significantly more K2 isolates were found among invasive compared to commensal isolates (22.6% vs 9%, p = 0.01).
  • However, no significant difference was observed between invasive and commensal K1 isolates (14.5% vs 24.7%, p = 0.075).
  • Among K64 isolates, one was carbapenem-resistant with ST799.
  • The research concluded that capsule type K64 K. pneumoniae is associated with community-acquired invasive infections in Vietnam.

Statistics:

  • 93 K. pneumoniae isolates were analyzed from patients hospitalized at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi between 2007 and 2011.
  • 110 commensal isolates were analyzed from throat swabs of healthy volunteers living in rural and urban Hanoi in 2012.
  • 39 out of 203 (19.2%) isolates were of capsule type K1, mainly ST23.
  • 31 out of 203 (15.3%) isolates were of capsule type K2, with multiple STs (ST65, ST86, ST380).
  • 8 out of 11 K64 isolates were identified from sepsis and meningitis patients.
  • 1 out of 11 K64 isolates was carbapenem-resistant with ST799.

Sources:

  • Klebsiella pneumoniae with capsule type K64 is overrepresented among invasive disease in Vietnam [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations, 1 not approved]. F1000Research, 2025,10. (F1000Research - http://f1000research.com).
  • NewsRx. Research Results from Oxford University Clinical Research Unit Update Knowledge of Klebsiella pneumoniae (Klebsiella pneumoniae with capsule type K64 is overrepresented among invasive disease in Vietnam [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 ...). Health & Medicine Week. August 29, 2025; p 5573.