Detection of plasmid-mediated AmpC beta-lactamase genes in clinical isolates by using multiplex PCR.

ABSTRACT: Therapeutic options for infections caused by gram-negative organisms expressing plasmid-mediated AmpC beta-lactamases are limited because these organisms are usually resistant to all the beta-lactam antibiotics, except for cefepime, cefpirome, and the carbapenems. These organisms are a major concern in nosocomial infections and should therefore be monitored in surveillance studies. Six families of plasmid-mediated AmpC beta-lactamases have been identified, but no phenotypic test can differentiate among them, a fact which creates problems for surveillance and epidemiology studies. This report describes the development of a multiplex PCR for the purpose of identifying family-specific AmpC beta-lactamase genes within gram-negative pathogens. The PCR uses six sets of ampC-specific primers resu

SUBMITTER: Perez-Perez FJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC130804 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature