Objective: To study the plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases and the genotypes of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. in children.
Methods: Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. of strains were isolated at our division from January to December 2009. Cefoxitin disk diffusion method was used to screen Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. for phenotypic AmpC enzyme. Multiple PCR method was adopted to test the genotypes of AmpC enzyme-positive Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp.strains.
Results: Of all Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp., 65 were insensitive to cefoxitin disk and 17 strains carried DHA type AmpC gene. The prevalence of plasmid-mediated AmpC enzyme in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. was 26.2% (17/65). Among plasmid-mediated AmpC enzyme isolates, 14 (38.9%) Klebsiella pneumoniae strains, 2 (7.7%) Escherichia coli strains and 1 (33.3%) Klebsiella oxytoca strains carried the DHA-1 AmpC gene. The genes of MOX, CIT, DHA, ACC, MIR and FOX were not found in other 48 strains.
Conclusions: The identified plasmid-mediated AmpC genes are all of DHA-1 genotype in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. The prevalence of plasmid-mediated AmpC enzyme in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates is relatively high in children.