Fatal Stent-Associated Respiratory Tract Infection Caused by K64-ST11 KPC-2-Producing Carbapenem-Resistant Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae: A Rare Case Report.

Objectives: This study reported a fatal stent-associated respiratory tract infection (SARTI) caused by carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-hvKP). Case: A bare-metal stent in the left main bronchus and a Y-shaped stent graft in the tracheal bronchus were placed successively in a 50-year-old woman due to shortness of breath after undergoing multiple chemotherapy treatments for lung cancer. Unfortunately, the followed SARTI and lung abscess in our patient caused by CR-hvKP eventually led to the death of the patient, despite our aggressive clearing of phlegm and potent antibiotics. The genomic analysis showed it was caused by a KPC-2-producing extensively drug-resistant K64-ST11 hypervirulent K. pneumoniae harboring several virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes. Conclusion: This study highlights the risk of SARTI caused by CR-hvKP in immunocompromised individuals.