Extended-spectrum β-Lactamase–producingEnterobacteriaceae, Central African Republic

Thierry Frank,Valerie Gautier,Raymond Bercion,Guillaume Arlet,Antoine Talarmin

doi:10.3201/eid1205.050951

Abstract

Extended-spectrum β-Lactamase–producing<i>Enterobacteriaceae</i>, Central African Republic

Highlights

Molecular analysis techniques suggest that many ESBLs are derived from mutations in TEM-1, TEM-2, and SHV-1 β-lactamases and that these ESBLs can hydrolyze the extended-spectrum cephalosporins and aztreonam [1]
From January 2003 to March 2005, all Enterobacteriaceae isolated from human specimens at the Institut Pasteur de Bangui were screened for ESBLs
Antimicrobial drug susceptibility was determined by using the disk diffusion method (Bio-Rad, Marnes la Coquette, France) on Mueller-Hinton agar (MHA) and interpreted according to the recommendations of the Comité de l’Antibiogramme de la Société

Summary

Introduction

To the Editor: Since the early 1980s, extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) have been the largest source of resistance to broad-spectrum oxyimino-cephalosporins among Enterobacteriaceae [1]. Molecular analysis techniques suggest that many ESBLs are derived from mutations in TEM-1, TEM-2, and SHV-1 β-lactamases and that these ESBLs can hydrolyze the extended-spectrum cephalosporins ( ceftazidime) and aztreonam [1]. Reports concerning the existence of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae in sub-Saharan Africa are scarce. We conducted a study in the Central African Republic to determine the frequency of ESBLs in Enterobacteriaceae isolated at the Institut Pasteur de Bangui and to characterize their blaTEM, blaSHV, and blaCTX-M genes.

Results

Conclusion