Abstract:
Antimicrobial resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae is rising in Saudi tertiary-care hospitals, driven by convergent multidrug-resistant and hypervirulent lineages. We conducted a multi-center genomic and clinical investigation integrating susceptibility testing, short- and long-read sequencing, plasmid profiling, and transcriptomics with patient outcomes. Although the population was diverse, a small group of high-risk clones, particularly ST2096, ST14, and ST147, predominated and expanded over time. Convergent strains were linked to longer hospital stays, greater intensive-care needs, and higher mortality. Long-read data revealed IncF and ColKP3 plasmids, including hybrid structures carrying both resistance and virulence loci. Lineage-specific expression profiles suggested metabolic and stress-response programs supporting persistence. These findings highlight a growing regional convergence threat requiring tailored infection-prevention and genomic-surveillance strategies.

Bio:
Mohammed Malaikah is a PhD candidate in the Pathogen Genomics Laboratory and Infectious Disease Epidemiology Lab at KAUST. His research uses genomic epidemiology, long- and short-read sequencing, and integrative clinical-genomic modeling to investigate the evolution, transmission, and antimicrobial-resistance mechanisms of Klebsiella pneumoniae circulating in healthcare settings. He focuses on plasmid dynamics, lineage-specific adaptive programs, and clinical outcome associations to inform surveillance, infection prevention, and public-health decision-making in Saudi Arabia and beyond.