Dissemination of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in intensive care units of a medical center in Taiwan

Microb Drug Resist. 2006 Fall;12(3):203-9. doi: 10.1089/mdr.2006.12.203.

Abstract

The prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae in a tertiary hospital in Taiwan was assessed over a 16-month period. A total of 125 nonrepetitive ESBL-producing isolates of Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were available for investigation using molecular methods. Four predominant intensive care units (ICUs) were identified, and SHV-12 (59%), CTX-M- 3 (36%), and CTX-M-14 (14%) were the three most frequent ESBLs. SHV-12 was predominant among E. cloacae in the burn unit and K. pneumoniae in the other three chest medicine-related ICUs. CTX-M-3 was predominant among E. coli and K. pneumoniae in three other ICUs. The dissemination of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae in four ICUs of a medical center in Taiwan is a consequence of the clonal dissemination of a few epidemic strains along with the horizontal transmission of resistance genes-carrying plasmids among bacterial organisms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Enterobacteriaceae / drug effects*
  • Enterobacteriaceae / enzymology
  • Enterobacteriaceae / genetics
  • Enterobacteriaceae / isolation & purification
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / epidemiology
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / microbiology
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / transmission*
  • Gene Transfer, Horizontal
  • Genotype
  • Hospitals, University*
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests / methods
  • Plasmids
  • beta-Lactam Resistance
  • beta-Lactamases / biosynthesis*
  • beta-Lactamases / genetics*
  • beta-Lactamases / metabolism

Substances

  • beta-lactamase CTX-M-3
  • beta-lactamase SHV-12
  • beta-Lactamases