Overview of the epidemiology and the threat of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases (KPC) resistance Luke F Chen,1–4 Deverick J Anderson,1–4 David L Paterson51Duke Program for Infection Prevention and Healthcare Epidemiology, 2Duke Infection Control Outreach Network, 3Duke University Prevention Epicenter Program, 4Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA; 5University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR), Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Campus, Brisbane, AustraliaAbstract: Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases (KPCs) confer resistance to nearly all ß-lactams. This broad-spectrum drug resistance mechanism has rapidly spread in the United States and is reportedly increasing elsewhere in the world. Thus, the emergence of KPC resistance is a major threat to global health. This article reviews the epidemiology and provides an overview of the dissemination of KPC-producing organisms.Keywords: beta-lactam resistance, carbapenemase, drug resistance, epidemiology, treatment failure