title: Extended-spectrum β-lactamase infections during pregnancy: a growing threat.
abstract: Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) are rapidly evolving plasmid transferrable enzymes that confer unique patterns of antibiotic resistance on various bacterial species. Such organisms pose special challenges to laboratory identification, as well as antibiotic selection, administration, and follow-up. Although such infections are increasingly common in the obstetric population, issues surrounding ESBLs are not widely recognized by practicing obstetricians, and controversies exist regarding diagnosis and management. This article provides the practitioner with a summary of clinically pertinent information that will assist in the proper care of pregnant patients with ESBL infection.
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX. Electronic address: Catherine.Eppes@bcm.edu.
authors.forename: Catherine S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Eppes
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000201:enzymology*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins; D001618:beta-Lactamases
keywords: antibiotic resistance; extended-spectrum β-lactamases; urinary tract infection