Introduction and objective:
In recent years, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, particularly carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP), have emerged as a global public health concern, posing substantial challenges to clinical treatment. The aimof the study is to investigate the prevalence of CRKP in healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), and to support the development of effective surveillance mechanisms and antimicrobial resistance containment strategies.

Material and methods:
A retrospective observational study was conducted using HAI data from a medical centre in central Taiwan, covering the period from January 2015 to December 2020. Cases of Klebsiella pneumoniae infection were categorized into two groups: CRKP (case group) and non-CRKP (control group). Risk factors were assessed using Pearson’s χ2 test or continuity correction (Fisher’s exact); a t‑test was applied alongside univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses.

Results:
Results indicated a high prevalence of CRKP in patients with cardiovascular disease (odds ratio [OR] = 3.33; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24–8.97; p =.017), prior exposure to carbapenems (OR = 3.70; 95% CI: 1.69–8.10; p =.001), presence of urinary catheters (OR = 3.51; 95% CI: 1.30–9.50; p =.013), and haemodialysis catheters (OR = 6.57; 95% CI: 2.17–19.91; p =.001).

Conclusions:
The incidence of CRKP-related HAIs demonstrated an upward trend over the study period. These findings suggest that patients with cardiovascular disease, or those requiring urinary or haemodialysis catheters, should avoid unnecessary invasive procedures. Enhanced monitoring and control of CRKP strains are imperative for preventing the emergence and spread of multi-drug-resistant and hypervirulent variants.