title: High Prevalence of AmpC β-Lactamases in Clinical Isolates of Escherichia coli in Ilam, Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Widespread use of β-lactam antibiotics could cause resistance to this group of antibiotics in pathogenic bacteria through the production of the enzyme β-lactamases. The aim of this study is to determine the molecular detection of AmpC β-lactamases among clinical Escherichia coli isolated from Ilam hospitals in Ilam, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twelve clinical isolates of E. coli were collected from hospitalized patients and were identified by biochemical tests. They were evaluated for extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) production, and the positive strains were subjected to AmpC enzymes; for detection of AmpC cluster genes, multiplex polymerase chain reaction was applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis showed 62.5% of isolates were ESBLs positive and that five strains revealed the AmpC cluster genes. This is the first report of FOXM cluster genes in E. coli in Iran.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our results, the prevalence of AmpC β-lactamases is increasing in Iran, which caused failure in antibiotic therapy. So, the current study recommended the revision of antibiotic policy in Iranian hospitals.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Science, Ilam, Iran.
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maleki
authors.affiliation: Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Science, Ilam, Iran.
authors.forename: Afra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khosravi
authors.affiliation: Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Science, Ilam, Iran.
authors.forename: Sobhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghafourian
authors.affiliation: Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Science, Ilam, Iran.
authors.forename: Iraj
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pakzad
authors.affiliation: Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Science, Ilam, Iran.
authors.forename: Shiva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.affiliation: Cellular & Molecular Research Center and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Rashid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramazanzadeh
authors.affiliation: Clinical Microbiology, Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Science, Ilam, Iran.
authors.forename: Nourkhoda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sadeghifard
keywords: AmpC β–lactamases; E. coli; ESBLs