title: Beta-lactamase and carbapenemase detection methods: an overview of recent patents.
abstract: Beta-lactam antibiotics constitute the agents most widely used against bacterial infections worldwide. Hence, the emergence and spread of beta-lactam hydrolyzing enzymes among pathogenic bacteria has proved to be one of the major medical issues especially when these enzymes inactivate carbapenems together with other beta-lactams. The prompt detection of beta-lactamases is important for therapeutic and epidemiological purposes therefore, various appropriate methodologies have been developed throughout the last decades. In the present overview, recent patents related to the detection of beta-lactamases and especially of carbapenemases are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, St. Paul General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Greece. meletisg@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meletis
authors.forename: Meletis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Georgios
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bagkeri
authors.forename: Bagkeri
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maria
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D010330:Patents as Topic; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001618:beta-Lactamases; C063912:carbapenemase