Introduction. Hypervirulent-K. pneumoniae (hvKP) is an evolving pathotype that is more virulent than the classical-K. pneumoniae (cKP) and causes serious fatal illnesses.

Hypothesis/Gap Statement. Although there are few reports on hvKP isolated from Egyptian patients, the molecular characteristics and clonal relatedness of MDR-hvKP have not been adequately investigated.

Aim. To investigate the microbiological and genetic characteristics as well as the epidemiology of hvKP induced ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

Methodology. A retrospective study of 59 K. pneumoniae inducing VAP was conducted at Assiut University Hospitals from November 2017 to January 2019. All K. pneumoniae were tested for resistance phenotype, capsular genotype (K1 and K2), virulence gene profile (c-rmpA, p-rmpA, iucA, kfu, iroB, iroN), and the presence of resistance genes (bla_NDM-1, bla_CTX-M-3-like, bla_CTX-M-14-like …