title: Prevalence of beta-lactamase enzyme production in bacteria isolated from women with postpartum endometritis.
abstract: One hundred eighty-four postpartum patients with the diagnosis of endomyometritis underwent intrauterine culturing. Beta-Lactamase production was tested using nitrocephin-impregnated discs in 278 bacterial isolates from patients with postpartum endometritis. beta-Lactamase production was found to be present in 149 of 278 (54%) isolates tested: 0 of 39 Streptococcus faecalis (0%), 22 of 41 Escherichia coli (54%), 66 of 68 Bacteroides bivius (97%), 0 of 13 Proteus mirabilis (0%) and 15 of 42 Staphylococcus epidermidis (36%). Anaerobes, as a group, had the highest rate of beta-lactamase production, 94 of 102 (93%), followed by gram negatives, 34 of 84 (40%), then gram positives, 21 of 91 (23%). However, it was the beta-lactamase produced by the gram-negative bacteria that was most responsive to the addition of a beta-lactamase inhibitor. The frequent isolation of beta-lactamase-producing bacteria from patients with postpartum endometritis raises concern about the use of antibiotics not resistant to these enzymes. Therefore, antibiotics combined with a beta-lactamase inhibitor may have potential as single-agent therapy in obstetric and gynecologic infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77550.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Faro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maccato
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Hammill
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riddle
mesh_terms: D000667:Ampicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000201:enzymology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004716:Endometritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013407:Sulbactam / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000667:Ampicillin; D001618:beta-Lactamases; D013407:Sulbactam