Beta-lactamases of type culture strains of the Bacteroides fragilis group and of strains that hydrolyse cefoxitin, latamoxef and imipenem

Abstract

Susceptibilities to β-lactam antibiotics and β-lactamase content of two groups of Bacteroides strains were compared. Type cultures produced low levels of β-lactamase and were susceptible to cefoxitin, latamoxef, imipenem and the combination of benzylpenicillin and clavulanic acid. Other Bacteroides strains that produced higher levels of β-lactamase were generally less susceptible to these antibiotics; this resistance was more closely related to enzyme type than to the amount of enzyme present.