Klebsiella pneumoniae is a major human pathogen as it is responsible for various infections.
In the past years hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKP) emerged and disseminated worldwide.
In this review a summary will be given about epidemiology, detection and antibiotic
resistance of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae . A common feature of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae
is a combined expression of several virulence factors. A mucoviscosus phenotype, certain
capsulare serotypes (e.g.: K1, K2, K28, K47, K63) together with additional genetic
markers namely, magA , rmpA or iucABCD, are needed in combinations to achieve the
hypervirulent pathotype. Plasmid coded virulence determinants are also detected, that
indicates horizontal gene transfer of hypervirulence factors in K. pneumoniae .
