Discovery of the Superbug (CR-hvKP) and Initiation of Global Intervention Effort

Lead  Prof. CHEN Sheng

Department of Food Science and Nutrition | Research Institute for Future Food

Researchers at the university discovered and contributed to the characterisation and global awareness-raising of a novel variant: carbapenem-resistant and hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (CR-HvKP). It has emerged as a lethal bacterial pathogen in clinical settings worldwide, owing to its high prevalence, widespread resistance to last-line antibiotics, and association with high patient mortality.

This discovery raised global awareness of the ‘superbug’, contributing to significant shifts in clinical practices, enhanced healthcare protocols, revised treatment options, and stricter government policies (e.g., from the WHO and CDC). These measures have collectively helped reduce mortality rates and curb the pathogen’s transmission.