Evidence of widespread endemic populations of highly multidrug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in hospital settings in Hanoi, Vietnam: a prospective cohort study

Patients with prolonged hospitalisation have a significant risk of carriage of and subsequent infection with extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing and carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae. However, the distinctive roles of the community and hospital environments in the transmission of ESBL-producing or carbapenemase-producing K pneumoniae remain elusive. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and transmission of K pneumoniae within and between the two tertiary hospitals in Hanoi, Viet Nam, using whole-genome sequencing.