Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39899211›Full record

ArticleInfection2025

The type VI secretion system as a potential predictor of subsequent bloodstream infection of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains on intestinal colonization.

Chenfeng Zhao, Pingjuan Liu, Xiaoshu Lin, Chenyu Wan, Kang Liao, Penghao Guo, Jiankai Deng, Zhongwen Wu, Yaqin Peng, Junqi Huang and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Infection, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Clinical Epidemiological Analysis of the Genotypic Spectrum and Mortality Risk in Carbapenem-ResistantThe Canadian journal of infectious diseases & medical microbiology = Journal canadien des maladies infectieuses et de la microbiologie medicale · 2026
    Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Chenfeng Zhao *Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China.
Pingjuan Liu *Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China.
Xiaoshu Lin *Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China.
Chenyu WanDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China.
Kang LiaoDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China.
Penghao GuoDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China.
Jiankai DengDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China.
Zhongwen WuDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China.
Yaqin PengDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China.
Junqi HuangDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China. huangjq@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Yili ChenDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China. chenyli3@mail.sysu.edu.cn.

Funding

Guangdong Natural Science Foundation 2023A1515011252National Natural Science Foundation of China 82302599
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe type VI secretion system (T6SS) has been recognized as a novel virulence factor in Klebsiella pneumoniae. This study investigated the occurrence of T6SS genes in carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) strains during intestinal colonization and evaluated their effect on the development of bloodstream infections.

methodsThe study encompassed 2,385 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and subjected to routine screening for intestinal colonization with CRKP. PFGE was employed on CRKP strains isolated from both the patients' intestine and blood cultures, confirming their genetic similarity. PCR was employed to detect the presence of carbapenemase genes, T6SS genes, and virulence genes. Quantitative real-time PCR was conducted to assess the expression levels of the core genes associated with the T6SS. The correlation between T6SS expression and sBSI was further investigated.

resultsApproximately 10% (238/2385) of ICU patients tested positive for CRKP colonization. Among patients who tested positive, 10.1% (24/238) developed CRKP-sBSI. Patients carrying T6SS-positive CRKP isolates were more commonly linked to a history of invasive procedures, antibiotic use, and immunosuppression (P < 0.05), and were strongly associated with 28-day mortality (P < 0.001). It indicated that T6SS-positive CRKP strains exhibited a higher prevalence of virulence genes, such as rmpA and iucA, compared to T6SS-negative ones (P < 0.001). Compared to the strains isolated from simple colonization group, there was a significant increase in the mRNA expression of both hcp and vgrG genes (P < 0.05) of strains from the sBSI group, suggesting the key genes of the T6SS may play a significant role in the occurrence and progression of sBSI caused by CRKP.

conclusionThe presence of the T6SS in a CRKP strain from intestinal colonization can serve as a promising predictive marker for sBSI. Conducting screenings for CRKP in patients' intestinal flora and monitoring T6SS carriage can improve the prevention and management of CRKP bloodstream infections.

Indexed as

BacteremiaKlebsiella InfectionsKlebsiella pneumoniaeType VI Secretion SystemsBacterial Proteinsbeta-LactamasesCarbapenemsDrug Resistance, BacterialHumansIntensive Care UnitsIntestinesVirulence FactorsBacterial Proteinsbeta-LactamasescarbapenemaseCarbapenemsType VI Secretion SystemsVirulence FactorsActive screeningCarbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniaeIntestinal ColonizationSubsequent Bloodstream InfectionType VI secretion system

Identifiers

PMID39899211
PMCPMC11971171

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.