en Microbial pathogenesis Microbial pathogenesis Review article Review article <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Hypervirulent <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae </i>(HvKp) is an emerging pathogen associated with severe and invasive infections, including pyogenic liver abscesses, septicemia, and pneumonia. Its hypervirulence is linked to enhanced capsular polysaccharide production resulting in hypermucoviscosity, efficient siderophore-mediated iron acquisition, and increased tissue invasiveness. HvKp strains are predominantly associated with capsular serotypes K1 and<b> </b>K2. HvKp poses an increasing public health threat due to its rising antimicrobial resistance, which complicates treatment strategies. This review aims to summarize the clinical impact, resistance patterns, and virulence mechanisms of HvKp infections, thereby highlighting their growing significance in clinical microbiology and infectious disease research. HvKp infections are increasingly prevalent, with studies demonstrating that 15&ndash;30% of <i>Klebsiella</i> isolates in endemic regions such as China and Taiwan are hypervirulent. These infections are associated with higher mortality rates, ranging from 8.1&ndash;16.7% for severe outcomes, including liver abscesses and sepsis. Furthermore, HvKp strains are frequently resistant to multiple antibiotics, with resistance rates to carbapenems ranging from 12&ndash;20% and frequent production of extended-spectrum &beta;-lactamases (ESBLs). The hypermucoviscosity phenotype of HvKp contributes to its increased invasiveness, particularly in immunocompromised individuals, although HvKp notably also causes severe disease in immunocompetent hosts, resulting in infections that are particularly severe and difficult to treat. HvKp infections pose a growing global health threat due to their high prevalence, severe clinical outcomes, and increasing antimicrobial resistance. These strains require heightened clinical awareness and surveillance to better manage and prevent transmission, underscoring the need for continued research into their pathogenesis and resistance mechanisms. Ultimately, preventing HvKp infections in both community and hospital settings requires a multifaceted approach, encompassing improved public health practices, management of predisposing conditions such as diabetes mellitus, and stringent infection control measures within healthcare facilities</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt"><span style="line-height:107%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">. </span></span></span></div> &nbsp; Klebsiella pneumoniae, hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (HvKp), Hypermucoviscosity, Virulence factors, Antimicrobial resistance, Pathogenesis, Invasive infections, Liver abscess 246 263 http://jommid.pasteur.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-560-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Nazeef Idris Usman iunazeef@gmail.com 0000-0001-6506-5532 Yes Department of Microbiology, Bauchi State University, Bauchi, Nigeria Ahmed Faruk Umar aufarouk@atbu.edu.ng 0000-0002-1220-9544 No Department of Biological Sciences, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria Mahmud Yerima Iliyasu myiliyasu@atbu.edu.ng 0009-0009-1147-1151 No Department of Biological Sciences, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria Nana Maryam Abdulwahab 0009-0009-2172-9590 No Department of Biological Sciences, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Nigeria