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Hypervirulent highly mucoid strains of K. pneumoniae have emerged as a serious threat, causing severe liver abscesses even in immunocompetent patients. These infections are notoriously difficult to treat, often failing standard antibiotic therapy. To investigate why, researchers developed a mouse model where wound infections with one of these strains reliably led to secondary liver abscesses, then did a detailed study of several antibiotic regimens.
Levofloxacin, ceftriaxone, and ertapenem — dosed at levels that successfully eradicated extrahepatic infection — failed to reduce bacterial burden within liver abscesses.
Treatment failure occurred despite bactericidal antibiotic concentrations within liver tissue and abscess cav…