Outbreak of Colistin-Resistant, Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae: Are We at the End of the Road?

Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains that produce K. pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) have spread globally in the last decade. Colistin is a key agent in treating infections caused by this pathogen. In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Giani et al. (T. Giani, F. Arena, G. Vaggelli, V. Conte, A Chiarell, L. H. De Angelis, R. Fornaini, M. Grazzini, F. Niccolini, P. Pecile, and G. M. Rossolini, J Clin Microbiol 53:3341-3344, 2015, http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JCM.01017-15) describe a sustained outbreak of colistin-resistant KPC-producing K. pneumoniae.