Prevalence of class A and AmpC β-lactamases in clinical Escherichia coli isolates from Pakistan Institute of Medical Science, Islamabad, Pakistan

Jpn J Infect Dis. 2011;64(3):249-52.

Abstract

In this study, 121 Escherichia coli samples isolated from clinical specimens obtained from Pakistan Institute of Medical Science, Islamabad, Pakistan, were analyzed for extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and AmpC β-lactamases using disk-diffusion assay and polymerase chain reaction. Of the isolates, 78 and 43 were identified as ESBL and AmpC producers, respectively. The highest resistance (89%) was observed against cefotaxime, followed by ciprofloxacin (87.6%) and cefepime (87%). Genetic analysis showed the presence of different class A and class C β-lactamase genes, either alone (44.7%) or in combination (53.6%). CTX-M (57.7%) was the most prevalent among class A, followed by TEM (20.3%) and SHV (15.4%). CIT (including LAT-1 to LAT-4, CMY-2 to CMY-7, and BIL-1) and MOX (including MOX-1, MOX-2, CMY-1, and CMY-8 to CMY-11) family-specific plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases were the most prevalent among these isolates. Our study showed that both class A and class C β-lactamases contributed to cephalosporin resistance in the E. coli isolates, thereby limiting therapeutic options. Co-expression of these enzymes may further hinder the identification of ESBLs, which is a critical step for designing a successful treatment for multidrug-resistant E. coli.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology*
  • Escherichia coli / isolation & purification
  • Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests / methods
  • Pakistan
  • Plasmids / analysis
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Prevalence
  • beta-Lactam Resistance
  • beta-Lactamases / biosynthesis*
  • beta-Lactamases / genetics
  • beta-Lactams / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • beta-Lactams
  • beta-Lactamases