title: Beta-lactamase production and susceptibilities to amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, ticarcillin, ticarcillin-clavulanate, cefoxitin, imipenem, and metronidazole of 320 non-Bacteroides fragilis Bacteroides isolates and 129 fusobacteria from 28 U.S. centers.
abstract: beta-Lactamase production (nitrocefin disk method) and agar dilution susceptibility of amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, ticarcillin, ticarcillin-clavulanate, cefoxitin, imipenem, and metronidazole were determined for 320 Bacteroides species (not Bacteroides fragilis group) and 129 fusobacteria from 28 U.S. centers. Overall, 64.7% of Bacteroides species and 41.1% of fusobacteria were beta-lactamase positive. Among the Bacteroides species, positivity rates were highest for B. bivius (85.0%), followed by B. splanchnicus (83.3%), B. eggerthii (77.8%), and B. oralis (77.1%); 54.5% of black-pigmented Bacteroides species were beta-lactamase positive. Among the fusobacteria, Fusobacterium mortiferum showed the highest rate of beta-lactamase positivity (76.9%). MICs of amoxicillin (128 micrograms/ml) and ticarcillin (64 micrograms/ml) for 90% of all beta-lactamase-positive strains were reduced to 4 and 2 micrograms/ml, respectively, with the addition of clavulanate. MICs of amoxicillin and ticarcillin for 90% of all beta-lactamase-negative strains were 1 and 4 micrograms/ml, respectively, and greater than or equal to 98.4% of the strains were susceptible to the beta-lactams tested. Of the beta-lactamase-producing strains, 45.9% were susceptible to amoxicillin at less than or equal to 4 micrograms/ml and 93.4% were susceptible to ticarcillin at less than or equal to 64 micrograms/ml; the addition of clavulanate raised the rates to 90.4 and 100%, respectively. All strains were susceptible to cefoxitin, imipenem, and metronidazole. The activity of amoxicillin against 29 beta-lactamase-producing strains (10 Bacteroides species and 19 fusobacteria) was not enhanced by the addition of clavulanate; however, 82.7% of these strains were susceptible to amoxicillin, and all were susceptible to ticarcillin. Although beta-lactamase positivity is on the increase in non-B. fragilis group Bacteroides species and fusobacteria, amoxicillin-clavulanate, ticarcillin, cefoxitin, imipenem, and metronidazole should be suitable for the treatment of infections with these strains. The addition of clavulanate does not appreciably improve the efficacy of ticarcillin against these organisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania 17033.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Appelbaum
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Spangler
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Jacobs
mesh_terms: D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D001442:Bacteroides Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D002440:Cefoxitin / Q000494:pharmacology; D019818:Clavulanic Acid; D002969:Clavulanic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D005673:Fusobacterium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D005674:Fusobacterium Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D015378:Imipenem / Q000494:pharmacology; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013982:Ticarcillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014481:United States; D065093:beta-Lactamase Inhibitors; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002969:Clavulanic Acids; D065093:beta-Lactamase Inhibitors; D008795:Metronidazole; D019818:Clavulanic Acid; D002440:Cefoxitin; D015378:Imipenem; D000658:Amoxicillin; D001618:beta-Lactamases; D013982:Ticarcillin