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Susceptibility patterns and characterization of beta-lactamases in clinical isolates ofBacteroids fragilis

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Abstract

Strains ofBacteroides fragilis isolated from clinical specimens are known to be frequently resistant to penicillins or cephalosporins. The production of beta-lactamases is the major mechanism in this resistance. Up to now at least five types of beta-lactamase enzymes have been described in theBacteroides fragilis group. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility to different antibiotics and the prevalence of the beta-lactamase types among 100Bacteroides fragilis strains isolated from clinical specimens in Italy. MICs of 11 antibiotics were determined by the reference agar dilution method and by the new E test (AB Biodisk, Sweden). Results showed an acceptable correlation between the MICs determined for most strains, although those obtained by the E test tended to be lower. In the beta-lactam resistant strains the enzyme activity and isoelectric points were determined on crude enzyme extract.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bacteriology and Medical Mycology Department, National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy

    P. Mastrantonio, P. Spigaglia & A. Sebastianelli

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  1. P. Mastrantonio
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  2. P. Spigaglia
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  3. A. Sebastianelli
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Mastrantonio, P., Spigaglia, P. & Sebastianelli, A. Susceptibility patterns and characterization of beta-lactamases in clinical isolates ofBacteroids fragilis . Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 13, 475–480 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01974637

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