Background: Infections due to Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Enterobacteriaceae are associated with increased therapeutic failure and mortality. Our laboratory recognized several strains producing KPC, most of which originated from transplantation ward patients.
Materials and methods: All strains of K pneumoniae resistant to at least 1 carbapenem isolated in 2010 were examined for KPC production by disc diffusion and then verified by molecular methods.
Results: All positive strains originated from 7 patients. Six of them were from transplantation wards. None of the KPC-producing strains was isolated from the patient's blood.
Conclusions: A quick, accurate diagnosis of KPC-producing strains enabled immediate isolation of carriers or infected persons. Isolation prevented spread of dangerous strains among immunocompromised patients and reduced the possibility of serious infections.
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