title: Carbapenemases: the versatile beta-lactamases.
abstract: Carbapenemases are beta-lactamases with versatile hydrolytic capacities. They have the ability to hydrolyze penicillins, cephalosporins, monobactams, and carbapenems. Bacteria producing these beta-lactamases may cause serious infections in which the carbapenemase activity renders many beta-lactams ineffective. Carbapenemases are members of the molecular class A, B, and D beta-lactamases. Class A and D enzymes have a serine-based hydrolytic mechanism, while class B enzymes are metallo-beta-lactamases that contain zinc in the active site. The class A carbapenemase group includes members of the SME, IMI, NMC, GES, and KPC families. Of these, the KPC carbapenemases are the most prevalent, found mostly on plasmids in Klebsiella pneumoniae. The class D carbapenemases consist of OXA-type beta-lactamases frequently detected in Acinetobacter baumannii. The metallo-beta-lactamases belong to the IMP, VIM, SPM, GIM, and SIM families and have been detected primarily in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; however, there are increasing numbers of reports worldwide of this group of beta-lactamases in the Enterobacteriaceae. This review updates the characteristics, epidemiology, and detection of the carbapenemases found in pathogenic bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C., Raritan, NJ 08869, USA. aqueenan@prdus.jnj.com
authors.forename: Anne Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Queenan
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bush
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D016972:Enterobacter cloacae / Q000201:enzymology; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000201:enzymology; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D014943:Global Health; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000201:enzymology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010957:Plasmids; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000201:enzymology; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001618:beta-Lactamases