Occurrence of extended-spectrum b-lactamases amongEscherichia coli isolates from hospitalized and healthy children

• Published in: Folia microbiologica Vol. 48; no. 2; pp. 243 - 247
• Main Authors: Franiczek, R, Sobieszczaska, B, Grabowski, M, Mowszet, K, Pytrus, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.03.2003
• Subjects: Fimbria
• ISSN: 0015-5632; 1874-9356
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02930963

The prevalence of extended-spectrum b-lactamases (ESBL) was determined among isolates ofEscherichia coli (n=63) isolated from hospitalized (43) and healthy (20) children. Ten isolates (21 %) were ESBL-positive for two screening tests, the double disk-synergy test and theOxoid Combination Disk method. One ESBL-positive isolate came from a healthy child. The transfer frequency of oxyimino-b-lactam resistance from ESBL-producing isolates toE. coli K12 C600 recipient strain ranged from 10 super(-8) to 10 super(-5) per donor cell. Donor strains and transconjugants displayed susceptibility patterns typical of ESBL producers. They were resistant to oxyimino-b-lactams but susceptible to clavulanic acid and carbapenems. Seven out of the 10 ESBL-positive isolates were found to produce MR/MS fimbria, which may play an important role in the colonization of the human intestinal mucosa.