A new multi-institutional study led by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) has conducted the most comprehensive epidemiological analysis of Klebsiella pneumoniae in Saudi Arabia to date.
According to SciTechDaily, This multidrug-resistant bacterium is one of the leading causes of hospital-acquired infections worldwide and is recognized by the World Health Organization as a significant public health threat.
The study shows that the strains of this bacterium found in Saudi Arabia are genetically distinct from those in other regions, which underscores the necessity for tailored health policies to address this unique microbial diversity.
While infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae in healthy individuals typically lead to mild symptoms, the bacterium poses a severe risk to sick or immunocompromised patients, potentially resulting in life-threatening conditions such as pneumonia and meningitis.
Antibiotics are the standard treatment for these infections; however, the global rise of multidrug-resistant strains—prompted by the overuse of antibiotics in healthcare and industries like agriculture—has made treatment increasingly challenging in recent decades.
“Klebsiella pneumoniae has a dynamic genome that allows pathogenic strains to emerge from non-pathogenic ones.
Understanding the epidemiology of these emerging pathogenic strains will strengthen preventive measures,” explained KAUST Assistant Professor Danesh Moradigaravand, one of the lead authors of the study.
A single bacteria species evolves by cloning and exchanging genetic information with one another through processes like gene recombination and horizontal gene transfer.
A dynamic genome allows for antibiotic resistance genes to rapidly mix between strains. Already, antibiotic resistant bacteria are the sixth leading cause of death in the Kingdom, killing more people than several respiratory illnesses and neurological disorders.
However, the number of patients is growing, and any one clone developing strong resistance and virulence could cause catastrophic havoc due to the inability to contain and treat.
Indeed, concern about the emergence of drug-resistant strains has led the Saudi Public Health Authority to propose an action plan for the execution and evaluation of interventions, with Klebsiella pneumoniae being one of the priority bacteria targeted.
Last year, KAUST and the MOH began its collaboration to support this initiative by combining the advanced capabilities of genomics and data science at KAUST with the unique biobanks of multidrug-resistant bacteria at the MOH.
