Abstract | OBJECTIVES: During 2003, the Health Protection Agency's Antibiotic Resistance Monitoring and Reference Laboratory began to receive isolates of Escherichia coli for confirmation of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production with a phenotype implying a CTX-M-type beta-lactamase, i.e. MICs of cefotaxime > or = 8-fold higher than MICs of ceftazidime. Many were referred as being from community patients. We examined 291 CTX-M-producing isolates from the UK and investigated the genetic basis of their phenotype. METHODS: PCR was used to detect alleles encoding CTX-M enzymes and to assign these to their blaCTX-M phylogenetic groups. Selected alleles were sequenced. Producers were compared by analysis of banding patterns generated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of XbaI-digested genomic DNA. MICs were determined by an agar dilution method or by Etest. RESULTS: Of 291 CTX-M-producing E. coli isolates studied from 42 UK centres, 70 (24%) were reportedly from community patients, many of whom had only limited recent hospital contact. Community isolates were referred by 12 centres. Two hundred and seventy-nine (95.9%) producers contained genes encoding group 1 CTX-M enzymes and 12 contained blaCTX-M-9-like alleles. An epidemic CTX-M-15-producing strain was identified, with 110 community and inpatient isolates referred from six centres. Representatives of four other major strains also produced CTX-M-15, as did several sporadic isolates examined. Most producers were multi-resistant to fluoroquinolones, trimethoprim, tetracycline and aminoglycosides as well as to non- carbapenem beta-lactams. CONCLUSIONS: CTX-M-producing E. coli are a rapidly developing problem in the UK, with CTX-M-15 particularly common. The diversity of producers and geographical scatter of referring laboratories indicates wide dissemination of blaCTX-M genes. Because of the public health implications, including for the treatment of community-acquired urinary tract infections, the spread of these strains--and CTX-M-15 beta-lactamase in particular--merits close monitoring.
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Authors | N Woodford, M E Ward, M E Kaufmann, J Turton, E J Fagan, D James, A P Johnson, R Pike, M Warner, T Cheasty, A Pearson, S Harry, J B Leach, A Loughrey, J A Lowes, R E Warren, D M Livermore |
Journal | The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy
(J Antimicrob Chemother)
Vol. 54
Issue 4
Pg. 735-43
(Oct 2004)
ISSN: 0305-7453 [Print] England |
PMID | 15347638
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Anti-Bacterial Agents
- beta-Lactamases
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Topics |
- Alleles
- Anti-Bacterial Agents
(pharmacology)
- Community-Acquired Infections
(epidemiology, microbiology)
- Conjugation, Genetic
- Cross Infection
(epidemiology, microbiology)
- Drug Resistance, Bacterial
(genetics)
- Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
- Escherichia coli
(drug effects, enzymology, genetics, isolation & purification)
- Escherichia coli Infections
(epidemiology, microbiology)
- Genes, Bacterial
(genetics)
- Humans
- Microbial Sensitivity Tests
- Phenotype
- United Kingdom
(epidemiology)
- beta-Lactamases
(biosynthesis, genetics)
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