1Assoc Professor, Dept of Microbiology, J.J.M. Medical College, Davangere
2Senior Resident, Dept of Microbiology, ESI Hospital, New Delhi
3Asst Professor, International Medical School, MS Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore
*Corresponding author: Veena M, Assoc Professor, Dept of Microbiology, J. J. M. Medical College, Davangere, Karnataka. Ph-9480599771, E-mail: veenaarush@gmail.com
Strains producing AmpC ?-lactamases are emerging in many countries. Yet there remains a standard method to be found to detect the strains producing these enzymes. Many researchers have used a variety of methods to detect the enzyme production. We, in this study have made an attempt to find out the enzyme production from different gram negative bacteria and their prevalence in our tertiary care hospital.
Isolates were preliminarily screened for the production of AmpC enzyme using cefoxitin (30?g) disk. All the isolates resistant to cefoxitin were further subjected to AmpC disk test for confirmation. The results were analysed and tabulated.
From a total of 300 isolates, 118(39%) showed resistance to cefoxitin (Screen positives). These were further tested for confirmation by AmpC disk test. 42(36%) were confirmed to be true AmpC producers. E.coli (41%) followed by Klebsiella (26%) were found to be the highest AmpC producers. The isolates also showed resistance to routinely used antibiotics. Maximum sensitivity was only for cefepime.
The increasing occurrence of AmpC producers has led to treatment failures of infections caused by gram negative bacteria. Hence their threat to the existing healthcare is immense and needs to taken seriously.
AmpC, Gram Negative Bacilli, E.coli, Cefoxitin, AmpC Disk Test
