Overcoming Multi-Drug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Infections

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most important concerns in the world, occurring for both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) is a Gram-negative bacterium belonging to the family of Enterobacteriaceae and also plays an important role in development of nosocomial infections. Three forms have emerged as a result of AMR including multi-drug resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant, and pan-drug-resistant. Nowadays, physicians cannot save most of the patients that suffer from MDR K. pneumoniae infections by typical antibiotics, so they should try other useful alternative treatments. Our aim in this review study was to search about the latest useful alternative methods against MDR K. pneumoniae infections. We collected some articles from PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar by the keywords of multi-drug-resistant K. pneumoniae, AMR, and alternative treatments, where finally 183 articles were selected. Also, inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria were identified separately. It was understood that there are novel therapeutic options against MDR K. pneumoniae infections, which include odilorhabdins, drug delivery systems, antibody drug conjugation treatments, nano-antibiotics, bacteriocins, probiotics, fecal transplant therapy, predatory bacteria, combined antibiotics, double-carbapenem therapy, synthetic lipopeptides, and phage therapy.

Keywords: AMR; alternative treatments; multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.