How some carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella infections resist antibiotics and affect patients
Mechanisms of Resistance and Clinical Outcomes of non-Carbapenemase Producing Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Infections
This project looks at how certain carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infections evade antibiotics and what happens to adults who get them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Methodist Hospital Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11293457 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We will collect bacterial samples from adults with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infections and run laboratory antibiotic susceptibility and genetic tests to see which drugs still work. The team will examine bacterial outer membrane proteins (like OmpK35/OmpK36) and levels or copy number of beta-lactamase genes to find mechanisms of resistance. Those lab results will be linked to patients' medical records to compare outcomes such as recovery, complications, and mortality. Researchers will compare findings across hospitals and isolate collections to see how common different resistance patterns are and which treatments may be more effective.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21 and older) with a confirmed carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infection, especially bloodstream infections, are most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People without Klebsiella infections or whose infections are caused by carbapenemase-producing strains may not benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors choose more effective antibiotics and improve outcomes for people with these resistant infections.
How similar studies have performed: Most prior research focused on carbapenemase-producing strains, so work on non-carbapenemase mechanisms is relatively new though small studies suggest these infections can be just as severe.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Methodist Hospital Research Institute — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Miller, William R — Methodist Hospital Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Miller, William R
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.