Beta-lactam resistance in clinical isolates of Escherichia coli caused by elevated production of the ampC-mediated chromosomal beta-lactamase.
Among cephalothin-resistant isolates from patients with urinary tract infections, six Escherichia coli strains were found to produce elevated amounts of a beta-lactamase indistinguishable from that coded by the ampC gene of E. coli K-12. The resistance levels displayed by these isolates toward a number of beta-lactams were, for five of them, considerably higher as compared with E. coli K-12 with the same amount of beta-lactamase, implying the importance of intrinsic resistance in these isolates. Cefuroxime, and to a lesser extent cefamandole, were stable to hydrolysis by E. coli chromosomal beta-lactamase but acted as inhibitors of the enzyme. Nevertheless, increased beta-lactamase production mediated an increased resistance toward these drugs. No plasmids were found in the isolates, suggesting a chromosomal location for the respective ampC locus.
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002512:Cephalothin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000494:pharmacology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D047090:beta-Lactams; D001618:beta-Lactamases; D002512:Cephalothin