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In-vitro activity of imipenem against 100 strains of serotype b and nontypable Haemophilus influenzae, including strains resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol or both.

Imipenem, along with ampicillin, chloramphenicol, ceftazidime, aztreonam and ceftriaxone were tested against 100 clinical isolates of Haemophilus influenzae. Eighty-eight of the isolates were serotype b, 35 isolates were beta-lactamase producers, and five isolates were chloramphenicol resistant. Inoculum densities of 1 X 10(3), 1 X 10(5) and 1 X 10(8) cfu/ml were tested for all isolates. MIC90s and MBC90s at the two lower inoculum densities for imipenem, ceftazidime, aztreonam and ceftriaxone were in the susceptible range for all categories of isolates tested. Imipenem, ceftazidime and aztreonam displayed elevated MBC90s at the high inoculum density. The effect of the high inoculum density upon the ceftriaxone MBC90 was below the level of detection afforded by the study design.

Ampicillin↗

The activity of BMY 28142 a new broad spectrum beta-lactamase stable cephalosporin.

The in-vitro activity of BMY 28142, an iminomethoxy, aminothiazolyl cephalosporin containing a methyl pyrrolidinio C-3 was compared with that of cefotaxime, ceftazidime, aztreonam, imipenem and tobramycin against various bacteria. BMY 28142 was the most active agent tested against the Enterobacteriaceae inhibiting 90% at less than or equal to 1 mg/l. The in-vitro activity of BMY 28142 was equal to or superior to cefotaxime against the highly susceptible members of the Enterobacteriaceae and several-fold superior to ceftazidime and aztreonam. BMY 28142 inhibited many Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter freundii and Serratia marcescens resistant to cefotaxime, ceftazidime and aztreonam. BMY 28142 was more active than imipenem against Proteus, Providencia and Morganella species. Ceftazidime and imipenem were more active than BMY 28142 against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but it inhibited piperacillin and tobramycin-resistant isolates. BMY 28142 inhibited beta-lactamase producing Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. BMY 28142 was more active than ceftazidime against streptococcal and staphylococcal species, but it did not inhibit or kill most methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. BMY 28142 did not inhibit most Bacteroides species. BMY 28142 was not hydrolyzed by common plasmid and chromosomal beta-lactamases, but it bound poorly to Enterobacter beta-lactamase, was a poor inhibitor of the TEM plasmid beta-lactamase and was a poor inducer of beta-lactamases.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

In-vitro activity of BRL-36650, a novel beta-lactamase-stable penicillin, against multiply resistant gram-negative organisms.

The in-vitro activity of BRL-36650, a novel beta-lactamase-stable penicillin was tested in comparison with that of cefotaxime, ceftazidime, aztreonam and imipenem against 559 multiply resistant Gram-negative organisms, some of which were also resistant to third generation cephalosporins. BRL-36650 and imipenem were the most active antibiotics. Against 342 Enterobacteriaceae the MICs90 were: imipenem 2 mg/l, BRL-36650 4 mg/l, aztreonam 8 mg/l and cefotaxime 32 mg/l. Against 122 Pseudomonas aeruginosa the MICs90 were: BRL-36650 4 mg/l, imipenem 8 mg/l, aztreonam and ceftazidime 64 mg/l.

Aminoglycosides↗

Selection and transformation of non-beta-lactamase-mediated insusceptibility to beta-lactams in Haemophilus influenzae: lack of cross-resistance between carbapenems and other agents.

Non-beta-lactamase-mediated insusceptibility to beta-lactams was studied in Haemophilus influenzae. Mutants resistant to ampicillin were selected in a susceptible isolate, while phenotypically similar resistance was transformed from four wild-type isolates into a susceptible recipient. Ampicillin-selected mutants generally had reduced susceptibility to penicillins, cephalosporins and aztreonam. Reduced susceptibility to meropenem was less common, and susceptibility to imipenem was unaffected. MICs of three cephalosporins and aztreonam were much higher for the ampicillin-resistant transformants than for the recipient strain, and were generally equal to, or within one doubling dilution of, the concentrations that inhibited the donor parents. In contrast, reduced susceptibility to imipenem observed with one parent (MIC of 4 mg/l) was not transferred to the recipient (MIC of 0.5 mg/l). Meropenem inhibited 22 of 24 transformants tested at less than or equal to 0.12 mg/l, compared with MICs of greater than or equal to 0.5 mg/l for the donor parents and 0.03 mg/l for the recipient. These results indicated that the mechanisms that confer non-beta-lactamase-mediated insusceptibility to penicillins, cephalosporins and aztreonam in H. influenzae have little or no effect on susceptibility to carbapenems.

Ampicillin Resistance↗

Detection and assay of beta-lactamases in clinical and non-clinical strains of Yersinia enterocolitica biovar 1A.

OBJECTIVES: To detect beta-lactamases (A & B) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) in clinical and non-clinical isolates of Yersinia enterocolitica biovar 1A, and to determine their activity in the presence of specific lactamase inhibitors. METHODS: The presence of beta-lactamases and ESBLs was detected by disc diffusion in 219 (36 clinical, 183 non-clinical) isolates. beta-Lactamase activity was assayed spectrophotometrically in all 36 clinical and 10 representative non-clinical isolates using nitrocefin as the substrate. Inhibition of beta-lactamases was studied by clavulanic acid, aztreonam and cloxacillin. RESULTS: Of the 219 isolates, all except two non-clinical isolates indicated the presence of beta-lactamase A (Bla-A) based on the smaller (2-8 mm) radius of the inhibition zone around the ticarcillin disc. Synergy between ticarcillin and co-amoxiclav discs was, however, observed in only 34% of isolates of non-clinical origin. beta-Lactamase B (Bla-B) was found to be consistently positive among all the clinical and non-clinical isolates, as indicated by its characteristic appearance of flattening of the zone of inhibition around the cefotaxime disc adjacent to an imipenem disc. Bla-B was induced more strongly in clinical than in non-clinical isolates. Inhibition of enzyme A by clavulanic acid, aztreonam and cloxacillin was found to be similar, whereas enzyme B was inhibited more strongly by aztreonam and cloxacillin. None of the isolates showed the unequivocal presence of ESBL. CONCLUSION: This is the first report on beta-lactamases of Yersinia enterocolitica biovar 1A from Asia. Y. enterocolitica biovar 1A expressed both Bla-A and Bla-B. Heterogeneity was, however, discerned in the expression of Bla-A and by induction of Bla-B among clinical and non-clinical isolates of Y. enterocolitica biovar 1A.

Animals↗

Spread of bla(CTX-M-type) and bla(PER-2) beta-lactamase genes in clinical isolates from Bolivian hospitals.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence and types of genes encoding extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) in clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp. from Bolivia. METHODS: A total of 642 clinical isolates were collected consecutively during a 4 month period (September to December 2004). Resistance or reduced susceptibility to cefotaxime and/or ceftazidime and/or aztreonam was assessed using double disc synergy tests using clavulanic acid, cefotaxime, ceftazidime and aztreonam to identify putative ESBL-producing isolates. The ESBL determinants were characterized by colony blot hybridization, PCR and DNA sequencing. RESULTS: Of the 642 isolates, 220 (34.3%) showed resistance or reduced susceptibility to cefotaxime and/or ceftazidime and/or aztreonam, and 150 (23.4%) were putative ESBL producers. A total of 106 ESBL-producing isolates contained the bla(CTX-M-2) gene, and 32 isolates had a novel allele, bla(CTX-M-43). bla(CTX-M) alleles were detected in all P. aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp. studied. In contrast, only 12 ESBL-producing isolates had bla(PER-2), mainly Enterobacteriaceae, although it was also found in a strain of P. aeruginosa. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study on ESBL-producing strains in Bolivia and it reveals a high prevalence of bla(CTX-M) genes. The PER-2 enzyme was less prevalent, but its gene was detected in several species, including P. aeruginosa, which is consistent with horizontal transfer.

Acinetobacter↗

In vitro antibacterial properties of BRL 36650, a novel 6 alpha-substituted penicillin.

BRL 36650 is a new type of penicillin in which a formamido group has been introduced into the 6 alpha-position of the nucleus. The compound is highly active against aerobic gram-negative bacteria and is stable to a wide range of beta-lactamases produced by these organisms. Against members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, BRL 36650 was considerably more active than piperacillin, particularly against beta-lactamase-producing strains, and showed a similar level of activity to moxalactam, aztreonam, and the third-generation cephalosporins cefotaxime and ceftazidime. Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other Pseudomonas species, BRL 36650 was more active than piperacillin, cefoperazone, and aztreonam and compared favorably with ceftazidime. BRL 36650 was highly active against Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, including beta-lactamase-producing strains, and against Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. Clinical isolates of Enterobacter species and P. aeruginosa which showed markedly reduced susceptibility to cefotaxime, ceftazidime, and aztreonam were only slightly less susceptible to BRL 36650. Against Bacteroides fragilis and most gram-positive bacteria, BRL 36650 showed only a low level of activity. BRL 36650 was found to be only 35% bound to human serum protein, and the antibacterial activity was little affected by the presence of serum. In contrast, the composition of the test medium influenced the activity of BRL 36650 slightly, and an antagonistic effect could be demonstrated between the compound and a component of certain Mueller-Hinton media.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Involvement of penicillin-binding protein 2 with other penicillin-binding proteins in lysis of Escherichia coli by some beta-lactam antibiotics alone and in synergistic lytic effect of amdinocillin (mecillinam).

Compared with cefotaxime, ceftazidime, moxalactam, and aztreonam, ceftriaxone produced the best lytic and bactericidal effects when each was added at about 10 times the MIC to Escherichia coli W7. When each of these antibiotics was added at its MIC, only bacteriostasis occurred, but the simultaneous addition of amdinocillin (mecillinam) was synergistic in causing rapid lysis and bactericidal effects. Induction of lysis of two E. coli mutants containing either a thermosensitive penicillin-binding protein (PBP) 2 or 3 by relatively PBP 3-specific (aztreonam) and PBP 2-specific (amdinocillin) antibiotics indicated that inhibition of only PBPs 2 and 3 can cause lysis. Examination of the interactions of cefotaxime, aztreonam, and cefsulodin, with or without amdinocillin, with their targets suggested that other combinations of PBPs could be involved in the onset of lysis. However, inhibition of both PBPs 2 and 3 may explain the better lysis-inducing activity of ceftriaxone (which binds well to both of these PBPs), as well as the synergistic effect of amdinocillin when added together with low concentrations of other beta-lactam antibiotics that interact with PBP 3.

Acyltransferases↗

TEM-4, a new plasmid-mediated beta-lactamase that hydrolyzes broad-spectrum cephalosporins in a clinical isolate of Escherichia coli.

A clinical isolate of Escherichia coli, strain CB-134, recovered in 1986 from an abdominal abscess, exhibited resistance to penams, oxyimino-beta-lactams including broad-spectrum cephalosporins (cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime), and aztreonam but remained susceptible to cephamycins (cefoxitin, cefotetan) and to moxalactam and imipenem. Clavulanate (2 micrograms/ml) restored the susceptibility of the strain to broad-spectrum cephalosporins and aztreonam. A beta-lactamase with an isoelectric point (pI) of 5.9 was detected in strain CB-134, and the corresponding gene was transferred by conjugation to E. coli together with the associated aminoglycoside resistance determinant [AAC(3)-II] and tetracycline, trimethoprim, and sulfonamide resistance. The beta-lactamase efficiently hydrolyzed cefotaxime and ceftriaxone but only moderately hydrolyzed ceftazidime and was inhibited by clavulanate and sulbactam (1 microM) and by anti-TEM-1 and anti-TEM-2 sera. This extended-spectrum beta-lactamase, conferring resistance to cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, and aztreonam, was comparable to CTX-1 (TEM-3) but differed from it by pI. Agarose gel electrophoresis of the plasmid DNA indicated that this new enzyme was coded by pUD16, a plasmid of 220 kilobases which belongs to the Inc6 incompatibility group. Hybridization with an intragenic probe for TEM-1 revealed that this beta-lactamase derives from TEM-type beta-lactamases and hence it was named TEM-4.

Cephalosporins↗

Cross-resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to ciprofloxacin, extended-spectrum beta-lactams, and aminoglycosides and susceptibility to antibiotic combinations.

The susceptibilities of 270 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from diverse sources (82 burn patients, 76 cystic fibrosis [CF] patients, and 112 other sources) to ciprofloxacin and three other quinolones, nine extended-spectrum beta-lactams, and three aminoglycosides were determined by an agar dilution method in cation-supplemented Mueller-Hinton medium. Ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime, imipenem, and aztreonam were the most active. MICs for burn isolates were consistently higher than those for other isolates for most antibiotics, whereas those for CF strains were consistently lower. Multidrug resistance to aminoglycosides and beta-lactams occurred in 21% of the burn isolates, 2.6% of the CF isolates, and 8.9% of the other isolates. Ninety percent of these strains remained susceptible to ciprofloxacin. Seven percent of the isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin (MIC, greater than or equal to 2 micrograms/ml). Concurrent resistance to ciprofloxacin and beta-lactams or aminoglycosides was rare (1.8 to 4%). Analysis by Spearman rank correlation revealed a high degree of correlation of MICs among antibiotics within the same class, except for imipenem. An inoculum effect was observed for all antibiotics between 10(6) and 10(4) CFU (P less than 0.05), with those for piperacillin and cefoperazone being the most pronounced (16-fold and 8-fold differences, respectively), and was least apparent for the quinolones, aminoglycosides, imipenem, and aztreonam (twofold differences). Selected strains for which there were high MICs of ciprofloxacin (greater than or equal to 1 micrograms/ml) were tested against ciprofloxacin in combination with other agents in a checkerboard agar dilution assay. Synergistic (summated fractional inhibitory concentration, </=0.5) interactions at clinically achievable concentrations were most frequent with mezlocillin (33%), piperacillin (21%), and (7.6%), aztreonam (3.7%), and the aminoglycosides (3.7%). Antagonism (summated fractional inhibitory concentration, >/= 4) was observed in only one instance (with gentamicin).

Aminoglycosides↗

Comparison of the inoculum effects of members of the family Enterobacteriaceae on cefoxitin and other cephalosporins, beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations, and the penicillin-derived components of these combinations.

We compared the inoculum effects of 105 recent clinical isolates of the family Enterobacteriaceae on cefoxitin, other cephalosporins, aztreonam, and three beta-lactamase inhibitors (clavulanic acid, sulbactam, and tazobactam) and their penicillin-derived components. Piperacillin and aztreonam showed the largest inoculum effect, and cefoxitin showed the smallest. The other cephalosporins tested (cefotetan, ceftizoxime, and ceftriaxone) showed an intermediate inoculum effect. In general, the inoculum effect was of greater magnitude for the penicillin and beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations than for the cephalosporins tested. Bactericidal activity was assayed and morphologic changes were monitored for selected strains exhibiting a large inoculum effect. MICs correlated with bactericidal activity at an inoculum level of 10(5) CFU/ml, while activity at 10(8) CFU/ml was variable. Cefoxitin demonstrated the least filamentous transformation and the most rapid bactericidal activity. Aztreonam showed the most marked filamentous transformation and was no longer bactericidal at 10(8) CFU/ml. The beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations showed variable bactericidal activity, and regrowth occurred with a number of strains with all three agents tested.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Antibacterial activity of RU44790, a new N-tetrazolyl monocyclic beta-lactam.

RU44790 belongs to a new class of synthetic monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotics which feature a bioisosteric tetrazole moiety instead of the more classical acidic functions at the N-1 position of the beta-lactam ring. Its antibacterial activity was evaluated against some 900 strains and was compared with those of other recent beta-lactam derivatives, especially aztreonam. RU44790 is endowed with potent activity against gram-negative bacteria. At less than or equal to 0.6 micrograms/ml, RU44790 inhibited 90% of all strains of the family Enterobacteriaceae with the exception of Citrobacter spp. (MIC for 90% of strains tested, 1.2 micrograms/ml). The activity was similar to that of aztreonam against strains that are normally susceptible to expanded-spectrum cephalosporins. On the other hand, the new compound was 10 to 100 times more potent than aztreonam and most of the other antibiotics tested against enterobacteria that produce chromosome-encoded or plasmid-mediated extended-spectrum beta-lactamases. Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were equally susceptible to both monobactams. RU44790 was inactive against staphylococci and had only marginal activity against streptococci (MIC for 50% of strains tested, 2.5 micrograms/ml). RU44790 was highly resistant to hydrolysis by various beta-lactamases, particularly cephalosporinases such as P99. The latter enzyme was also inhibited by the compound. RU44790 showed a high affinity for penicillin-binding protein 3 of Escherichia coli. The results suggest that RU44790 has good potential in the treatment of infections caused by gram-negative microorganisms.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Single amino acid replacements at positions altered in naturally occurring extended-spectrum TEM beta-lactamases.

By directed mutagenesis, we constructed a set of seven TEM-1 derivatives containing single replacements in each one of the amino acids substituted in naturally occurring extended-spectrum TEM beta-lactamases. The exact contribution of each mutation to the resistance phenotype was determined. In addition, mutant enzyme production and stabilities were studied. Five of seven mutations determined to some extent variations in cephalosporin and/or monobactam activity. Dramatic changes in the hydrolysis of ceftazidime and aztreonam occurred when a serine was at position 164. Changes at positions 104, 238, and 240 showed more leaky variation in activity towards cephalosporins and aztreonam. Replacements at positions 237 and 265 caused no variation in susceptibility to cephalosporins. Interestingly, the change from Gln to Lys at position 39 found in TEM-2, classically considered a neutral change, slightly but consistently increased the MIC of ceftazidime and aztreonam. The in vitro construction of mutations appearing in naturally occurring TEM-beta-lactamases, studied in the same genetic context, may help to understand the evolution of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases.

Amino Acids↗

OXA-18, a class D clavulanic acid-inhibited extended-spectrum beta-lactamase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Clinical isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa Mus showed resistance both to extended-spectrum cephalosporins and to aztreonam. We detected a typical double-disk synergy image when ceftazidime or aztreonam was placed next to a clavulanic acid disk on an agar plate. This resistance phenotype suggested the presence of an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase. Isoelectric focusing revealed that this strain produced three beta-lactamases, of pI 5.5, 7.4, and 8.2. A 2.6-kb Sau3A fragment encoding the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase of pI 5.5 was cloned from P. aeruginosa Mus genomic DNA. This enzyme, named OXA-18, had a relative molecular mass of 30.6 kDa. OXA-18 has a broad substrate profile, hydrolyzing amoxicillin, ticarcillin, cephalothin, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, and aztreonam, but not imipenem or cephamycins. Its activity was totally inhibited by clavulanic acid at 2 microg/ml. Hydrolysis constants of OXA-18 (Vmax, Km) confirmed the MIC results. Cloxacillin and oxacillin hydrolysis was noticeable with the partially purified OXA-18. The blaOXA-18 gene encodes a 275-amino-acid protein which has weak identity with all class D beta-lactamases except OXA-9 and OXA-12 (45 and 42% amino acid identity, respectively). OXA-18 is likely to be chromosomally encoded since no plasmid was found in the strain and because attempts to transfer the resistance marker failed. OXA-18 is peculiar since it is a class D beta-lactamase which confers high resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins and seems to have unique hydrolytic properties among non-class A enzymes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Method for estimation of low outer membrane permeability to beta-lactam antibiotics.

The outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria plays a major role in beta-lactam resistance as it slows down antibiotic entry into the periplasm and therefore acts in synergy with beta-lactamases and efflux systems. Up to now, the quantitative estimation of low outer membrane permeability by the method of Zimmermann and Rosselet was difficult because of the secreted and cell surface-associated beta-lactamases. The method presented here uses the acylation of a highly sensitive periplasmic penicillin-binding protein (PBP) (BlaR-CTD) to assess the rate of beta-lactam penetration into the periplasm. The method is dedicated to measurement of low permeability and is only valid when the diffusion rate through the outer membrane is rate limiting. Cytoplasmic membrane associated PBPs do not interfere since they are acylated after the very sensitive BlaR-CTD. This method was used to measure the permeability of beta-lactamase-deficient strains of Enterobacter cloacae and Enterobacter aerogenes to benzylpenicillin, ampicillin, carbenicillin, cefotaxime, aztreonam, and cephacetrile. Except for that of cephacetrile, the permeability coefficients were equal to or below 10(-7) cm/s. For cephacetrile, carbenicillin, and benzylpenicillin, the outer membrane of E. cloacae was 20 to 60 times less permeable than that of Escherichia coli, whereas for cefotaxime, aztreonam, and ampicillin it was, respectively, 400, 1,000, and 700 times less permeable. The permeability coefficient for aztreonam is the lowest ever measured (P = 3.2 x 10(-9) cm/s). Using these values, the MICs for a beta-lactamase-overproducing strain of E. cloacae were successfully predicted, demonstrating the validity of the method.

Acylation↗

Carbapenem-resistant strain of Klebsiella oxytoca harboring carbapenem-hydrolyzing beta-lactamase KPC-2.

We investigated a Klebsiella oxytoca isolate demonstrating resistance to imipenem, meropenem, extended-spectrum cephalosporins, and aztreonam. The MICs of both imipenem and meropenem were 32 microg/ml. The beta-lactamase activity against imipenem and meropenem was inhibited in the presence of clavulanic acid. Isoelectric focusing studies demonstrated five beta-lactamases with pIs of 8.2 (SHV-46), 6.7 (KPC-2), 6.5 (unknown), 6.4 (probable OXY-2), and 5.4 (TEM-1). The presence of the bla(SHV) and bla(TEM) genes was confirmed by specific PCR assays and DNA sequence analysis. Transformation and conjugation studies with Escherichia coli showed that the beta-lactamase with a pI of 6.7, Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-2 (KPC-2), was encoded on an approximately 70-kb conjugative plasmid that also carried SHV-46, TEM-1, and the beta-lactamase with a pI of 6.5. The bla(KPC-2) determinant was cloned in E. coli and conferred resistance to imipenem, meropenem, extended-spectrum cephalosporins, and aztreonam. The amino acid sequence of KPC-2 showed a single amino acid difference, S174G, when compared with KPC-1, another carbapenem-hydrolyzing beta-lactamase from K. pneumoniae 1534. Hydrolysis studies showed that purified KPC-2 hydrolyzed not only carbapenems but also penicillins, cephalosporins, and aztreonam. KPC-2 had the highest affinity for meropenem. The kinetic studies revealed that KPC-2 was inhibited by clavulanic acid and tazobactam. An examination of the outer membrane proteins of the parent K. oxytoca strain demonstrated that it expressed detectable levels of OmpK36 (the homolog of OmpC) and a higher-molecular-weight OmpK35 (the homolog of OmpF). Thus, carbapenem resistance in K. oxytoca 3127 is due to production of the Bush group 2f, class A, carbapenem-hydrolyzing beta-lactamase KPC-2. This beta-lactamase is likely located on a transposon that is part of a conjugative plasmid and thus has a very high potential for dissemination.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Extension of the substrate spectrum by an amino acid substitution at residue 219 in the Citrobacter freundii cephalosporinase.

The cephalosporinase of Citrobacter freundii GN346 is a class C beta-lactamase, consisting of 361 amino acids and exhibiting the substrate profile of a typical cephalosporinase. On the conversion of a conserved glutamic acid at residue 219 to lysine, the substrate spectrum of the cephalosporinase was extended to oxyimino cephalosporins, aztreonam and carbenicillin, which are essentially undesirable substrates for the enzyme. Escherichia coli cells carrying the mutant gene showed higher resistance levels to cefuroxime, aztreonam, and carbenicillin, but a lower resistance level to cefoxitin, than cells carrying the wild gene. The kcat values of the purified mutant enzyme for ceftazidime, cefuroxime, and cefmenoxime were 77,100, and 300 times those of the wild enzyme, respectively. The relative Vmax values of the mutant enzyme for aztreonam and carbenicillin were determined to be 11 and 23 times those of the wild enzyme, respectively, but the value of the mutant enzyme for cefoxitin was only one-third that of the wild enzyme.

Base Sequence↗

Accuracy of three automated systems (MicroScan WalkAway, VITEK, and VITEK 2) for susceptibility testing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa against five broad-spectrum beta-lactam agents.

One hundred recent clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were used to assess the quantitative (MIC) and qualitative (susceptibility category) accuracies of the MicroScan WalkAway, VITEK, and VITEK 2 automated susceptibility test systems when five-broad spectrum beta-lactams, aztreonam, cefepime, ceftazidime, imipenem, and piperacillin-tazobactam, were tested. Isolates were selected so that the MICs for the isolates overrepresented the MICs near the breakpoints to assess precisely the agreement between the results obtained with the automated systems and the results obtained by the reference tests. The categorical and MIC results from the automated systems were compared to the consensus result of three reference methods: broth microdilution, agar dilution, and disk diffusion. The consensus categorical testing (susceptibility and resistance) rates were 47 and 27%, respectively, for aztreonam; 59 and 14%, respectively, for cefepime; 44 and 43%, respectively, for ceftazidime; 71 and 19%, respectively, for imipenem; and 50 and 50%, respectively, for piperacillin-tazobactam. All systems tested exhibited a high, unacceptable level of very major (false-susceptible) errors for piperacillin-tazobactam (19 to 27%). Major (false-resistant) error rates were generally acceptable (0 to 3%), but minor error rates were elevated (8 to 32%) for cefepime (VITEK 2 and VITEK) and for aztreonam (all three systems), leading to consistent trends toward false resistance. Manufacturer reevaluation of these automated systems for the testing of selected beta-lactams with current clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa that exhibit contemporary resistance mechanisms would be prudent to minimize the potential for serious reporting errors.

Bacteriological Techniques↗