Skip to main content
Log in

β-Lactamase of the Legionnaires' bacterium

  • Published:
Current Microbiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Nine strains of the Legionnaires' bacterium produced a β-lactamase that was basically a cephalosporinase, but which also had some effect on all the penicillins tested. Cefoxitin, cefuroxime, and cephalexin were resistant to the enzyme. Minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations were very similar.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  1. Center for Disease Control. 1977. Follow-up on Legionnaires' disease—Pennsylvania. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report26:152.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Fraser, D. W., Tsai, T. R., Orenstein, W., Parkin, W. E., Beecham, H. J., Sharrar, R.G., Harris, J., Mallison, G. F., Martin, S. M., McDade, J. E., Shepherd, C. C., Brachman, P. S. 1977. Legionnaires' disease. Description of an epidemic of pneumonia. New England Journal of Medicine297:1189–1197.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Keys, T. F. 1977. A sporadic case of pneumonia due to Legionnaires' disease. Mayo Clinic Proceedings52:657–660.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Lee, W., Komarmy, L. 1976. New method for detecting in vitro inactivation of penicillin byHaemophilus influenzae andStaphylococcus aureus. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy10:564–566.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Lewis, V. J., Thacker, W. L. 1978. Susceptibility of the Legionnaires' disease bacterium to ten antimicrobial agents in embryonated chicken eggs. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, in press.

  6. Lowbury, E. J. L., Ayliffe, G. A. J. 1974. Drug resistance in antimicrobial therapy. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas.

    Google Scholar 

  7. McDade, J. E., Shepherd, C. C., Fraser, D. W., Tsai, T. R., Redus, M. A., Dowdle, W. R. 1977. Legionnaires' disease. Isolation of a bacterium and demonstration of its role in other respiratory disease. New England Journal of Medicine297:1197–1203.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Medeiros, A. A., O'Brien, T. F. 1975. Ampicillin-resistantHaemophilus influenzae type b possessing a TEM-type β-lactamase but little permeability barrier to ampicillin. The Lancet1:716–719.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Onishi, H. R., Daoust, D. R., Zimmerman, S. B., Hendlin, D., Stapley, E. O. 1974. Cefoxitin, a semi-synthetic cephamycin antibiotic: Resistance to beta-lactamase inactivation. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy5:38–48.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Richmond, M. H., Sykes, R. B. 1973. The β-lactamases of gram-negative bacteria and their possible physiological role. Textbook on Advances in Enzymology9:31–88.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Sabath, L. D., Matsen, J. M. 1974. Assay of antimicrobial agents, pp. 428–430. In: Lennette, E. H., Spaulding, E. H., Truant, J. P. (eds.), Manual of clinical microbiology, 2nd ed. Washington, D.C.: American Society for Microbiology.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Smith, D. H. 1971. Mechanisms of resistance of gram-negative bacilli. In: Brachman, P. S., Eickhoff, T. C. (eds.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Nosocomial Infections. Baltimore: Waverly Press.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Thornsberry, C., Baker, C. N., Kirven, L. A. 1978. In vitro activity of antimicrobial agents on the Legionnaires' disease bacterium. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy13:78–80.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Thornsberry, C., Biddle, J. W., Kirven, L. A., Moss, C. W. 1978. Penicillin resistance inNeisseria gonorrhoeae due to β-lactamase production. Microbios, in press.

  15. Thornsberry, C., Gavan, T. L., Gerlach, E. H. 1977. New developments in antimicrobial agent susceptibility testing. Cumitech6 [Cumulative Techniques and Procedures in Clinical Microbiology]. Washington, D.C.: American Society for Microbiology.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Washington, J. A., Barry, A. L. 1974. Dilution test procedures, pp. 410–417. In: Lennette, E. H., Spaulding, E. H., Truant, J. P. (eds), Manual of clinical microbiology, 2nd ed. Washington, D.C.: American Society for Microbiology.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Thornsberry, C., Kirven, L.A. β-Lactamase of the Legionnaires' bacterium. Current Microbiology 1, 51–54 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02601708

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02601708

Keywords

Navigation