DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING ANTIBIOTIC-INACTIVATING ENZYMES

摘要

A method for determining whether a microorganism produces an AmpC ß­lactamase is disclosed in which a culture of a microorganism suspected of producing a ß-­lactamase that inactivates a ß-lactam-containing antibiotic is admixed with an effective amount of each of i) a ß-lactam-containing antibiotic, ii) a ß-lactamase inhibitor to which AmpC ß-­lactamase is resistant, and iii) a permeabilizing agent for the microorganism present in a non­-growth-inhibiting microorganism-permeabilizing amount to form an assay culture. That assay culture in maintained under appropriate culture conditions and for a time period sufficient to determine the interaction of the microorganism with the AmpC ß-lactamase resistant inhibitor and antibacterial compound, and thereby determine the presence of an AmpC ß-lactamase, wherein a positive test indicates the presence of an AmpC ß-lactamase.