title: Current status of bacterial resistance to third-generation cephalosporins.
abstract: A review of the evolution of bacterial resistance to third-generation cephalosporins is presented, focusing mainly on the prototypical member of this group-cefotaxime. Third-generation cephalosporins generally remain highly active against most Enterobacteriaceae, staphylococci, streptococci, Haemophilus, and Neisseriaceae. Only enterobacteria with a high frequency of mutant derepressed strains that hyperproduce chromosomally mediated beta-lactamase, Pseudomonas spp., and some glucose nonfermenter Gram-negative bacilli have demonstrated increased levels of resistance. The significance of derepressed strains and of the recently described extended-spectrum, plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases to the usefulness of the third-generation cephalosporins is discussed.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: García-Rodríguez
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: García Sánchez
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Muñoz Bellido
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: García García
mesh_terms: D002439:Cefotaxime / Q000494:pharmacology; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins; D002439:Cefotaxime