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In vitro activity of cefpirome against selected clinical enterobacterial isolates with β-lactamase-mediated resistance

In-vitro-Aktivität von Cefpirom gegen ausgewählte klinische Isolate von Enterobakterien mit β-Laktamase-bedingter Resistenz

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Summary

Previous studies have shown that there is a high incidence of resistance to cephalosporins among enterobacteria isolated in Greek hospitals. This resistance is mainly due to either the derepression of chromosomal cephalosporinases or the acquisition of plasmids coding for SHV-5 type β-lactamase. In the present study the activity of cefpirome against a number of enterobacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter aerogenes andSerratia marcescens) possessing the mechanisms mentioned above was examined. Cefpirome was found active against all the strains characterized by stable derepression of chromosomal class-C enzymes. The antibiotic was less potent against strains expressing SHV-5 type β-lactamase due to its hydrolysis by the enzyme. Also cefpirome exhibited good activity againstE. aerogenes strains with reduced susceptibility to imipenem. Thesein vitro data suggest that cefpirome might be useful in treating infections caused by these resistant microorganisms that are frequently encountered in Greek hospitals.

Zusammenfassung

Frühere Studien haben gezeigt, daß die Resistenzrate von Enterobakterien-Isolaten aus griechischen Krankenhäusern gegen Cephalosporine hoch ist. Diese Resistenz beruht im wesentlichen auf der Derepression chromosomaler Cephalosporinasen oder dem Erwerb von Plasmiden, die für eine β-Laktamase vom Typ SHV-5 kodieren. In der vorliegenden Studie wurde die Aktivität von Cefpirom gegen eine Reihe von Enterobakterien (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter aerogenes undSerratia marcescens) mit den obengenannten Resistenzmechanismen geprüft. Cefpirom erwies sich als wirksam gegen alle Stämme, die durch eine stabile Derepression der chromosomal kodierten Klasse-C-Enzyme charakterisiert waren. Das Antibiotikum war gegen Stämme mit Expression einer β-Laktamase vom Typ SHV-5 weniger aktiv, da es durch dieses Enzym hydrolysiert wurde. Cefpirom zeigte auch gute Aktivität gegen Stämme vonE. aerogenes, mit verminderter Empfindlichkeit gegen Imipenem. DieseIn-vitro-Daten lassen darauf schließen, daß Cefpirom sich für die Behandlung von Infektionen durch diese resistenten Erreger eignet, die in griechischen Krankenhäusern häufig zu finden sind.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Bacteriology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Vass. Sofias 127, 11521, GR-Athens

    L. S. Tzouvelekis Ph. D., Eva Tzelepi Ph. D. & A. F. Mentis M. D.

  2. Dept. of Microbiology, Medical School, Athens University, Greece

    N. J. Legakis M. D.

Authors
  1. L. S. Tzouvelekis Ph. D.
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  2. Eva Tzelepi Ph. D.
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  3. A. F. Mentis M. D.
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  4. N. J. Legakis M. D.
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Tzouvelekis, L.S., Tzelepi, E., Mentis, A.F. et al. In vitro activity of cefpirome against selected clinical enterobacterial isolates with β-lactamase-mediated resistance. Infection 23, 384–388 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01713572

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01713572

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