Resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in anaerobic bacteria.
The known mechanisms of beta-lactam resistance in anaerobic bacteria involve production of beta-lactamases, alteration of penicillin-binding proteins, and blocked penetration of beta-lactam antibiotics through bacterial outer membranes. The most important factor in beta-lactam resistance is production of beta-lactamases, which have been found in various Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, and Clostridium species. beta-Lactam resistance in Bacteroides fragilis is commonly mediated by beta-lactamases that are mainly cephalosporinase in character. B. fragilis strains can also produce penicillinases and enzymes inactivating cefoxitin and imipenem. The non-fragilis species of Bacteroides produce beta-lactamases that are mainly penicillinase in character. Penicillinases are also isolated from Fusobacterium nucleatum. Among the clostridia, Clostridium butyricum, Clostridium clostridioforme, and Clostridium ramosum have been shown to produce penicillinases.
Department of Microbiology, Huddinge University Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
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D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D006801:Humans; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase / Q000378:metabolism; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D047090:beta-Lactams
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D047090:beta-Lactams; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase; D001618:beta-Lactamases