Klebsiella pneumoniae as a key trafficker of drug resistance genes from environmental to clinically important bacteria

<jats:p><jats:italic>Klebsiella pneumoniae</jats:italic> is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen known for its high frequency and diversity of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes. In addition to being a significant clinical problem in its own right, <jats:italic>K. pneumoniae</jats:italic> is the species within which several new AMR genes were first discovered before spreading to other pathogens (e.g. carbapenem-resistance genes KPC, OXA-48 and NDM-1). Whilst <jats:italic>K. pneumoniae</jats:italic>’s contribution to the overall AMR crisis is impossible to quantify, current evidence suggests it has a wider ecological distribution, significantly more varied DNA composition, greater AMR gene diversity and a higher plasmid burden than other Gram negative opportunists. Hence we propose it plays a key role in disseminating AMR genes from environmental microbes to clinically important pathogens.</jats:p>