Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated at the Cordoba Children's Hospital, Argentina

HECTOR ALEX SAKA; MARIELA EGEA; CATALINA CULASSO; ROSARIO ROLLAN; ANDREA AVARO; LYDIA CARVAJAL

ASOCIACION ARGENTINA MICROBIOLOGIA

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2003 vol. 35 p. 1 - 1

p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;" class="MsoNormal">The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated at the "Hospital de Ninos de Cordoba". The strains were collected from inpatients between January 1996 and July 2000. A total of 150 ESBL producer isolates were detected. During 1996 the prevalence of ESBL producer K. pneumoniae was 20%, but since 1998 the values have increased to approximately 60%. Phenotypic analysis such as isoelectric point (pl) and antibiotyping performed in 32 randomly selected isolates showed two different enzyme profiles: 81% had ESBL with pl = 7.9 and preferential activity against cefotaxime, while 19% showed ESBL with pl = 5.4 and preferential activity against ceftazidime. No isolates resistant to imipenem or ciprofloxacin were detected. Susceptibility to oth