Testosterone and KPC-Kp gut colonization. Is there a link?

KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC-Kp) accounts for a significant proportion of hospital-acquired infections and is a major concern particularly in healthcare settings like intensive care units (ICU), due to the multitude of invasive procedures and medical devices used, the prolonged antibiotic therapy, and the critical conditions of these patients. Intestinal colonization by KPC-Kp is a risk factor for developing subsequent nosocomial infection and for this reason it is crucial to screen for KPC-Kp colonization as well as potential related factors. Sex hormones play an important role in various physiological processes including the immune response and through their modulation they can affect host-microbe interactions and the microbiota.