Molecular detection of GES-2 extended spectrum Beta-lactamase producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Pretoria, South Africa

Gerhard F Weldhagen; Andrea Prinsloo

doi:10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2003.12.012

Molecular detection of GES-2 extended spectrum Beta-lactamase producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Pretoria, South Africa

Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2004 Jul;24(1):35-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2003.12.012.

Authors

Gerhard F Weldhagen¹, Andrea Prinsloo

Affiliation

¹ Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. gweldhagen@medic.up.ac.za

PMID: 15225858
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2003.12.012

Abstract

Screening for and detection of the novel extended spectrum Beta-lactamase (ESBL), GES-2 produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa remains a problem in the clinical microbiology laboratory. This study aimed to compare the normally used ESBL screening agent ceftazidime, with molecular detection, to demonstrate the presence of GES-2 ESBL production in clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa. Ceftazidime was found unreliable as an ESBL screening agent, with a specificity of 34.4%, when National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards resistance criteria for P. aeruginosa were employed. An improved PCR detection method was devised, that amplified a 371 bp segment of bla(GES-2). This should lead to more cost-effective DNA sequencing and sequence interpretation in the laboratory.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Base Sequence
DNA, Bacterial
Molecular Sequence Data
Pseudomonas aeruginosa / enzymology*
South Africa
beta-Lactamases / biosynthesis*

Substances

DNA, Bacterial
beta-lactamase GES-2
beta-Lactamases