title: Metallo beta lactamases in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter species.
abstract: The multi drug resistant gram negative bacteria especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter species are on the rise. The major defense in these bacteria against beta-lactam antibiotics is production of metallo beta lactamases (MBLs) which degrade this group of antibiotics including carbapenems. Till now five main types of MBLs have been described throughout the World--IMP, VIM, SPM, GIM and SIM. A new MBL has been recently reported in P. aeruginosa from Australia--bla AIM-1. There are no standard guidelines by CLSI for detection of these enzymes in various bacteria. A number of phenotypic tests based on different beta lactam-inhibitor combinations are being evaluated and used for routine testing. Regarding the treatment options--colistin, various antibiotic combinations and a few novel antibiotics are being tried and evaluated. Prevention is based on age old practices of strict infection control and judicious use of antibiotics.
authors.affiliation: Government Medical College and Hospital, Department of Microbiology, Sector 32, Chandigarh-160030, India. varshagupta_99@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Varsha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000150:Acinetobacter / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000151:Acinetobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018440:beta-Lactam Resistance; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001618:beta-Lactamases