Identification of a novel plasmid-mediated β-lactamase with chromosomal cephalosporinase characteristics from Klebsiella pneumoniae

Abstract

A clinical isolate of Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant to a wide variety of β-lactams, including third generation cephalosporins, aztreonam and cephamycins, as well as to β-lactam/clavulanate and sulbactam combinations was examined. It was found that this resistance was transmissible to Escherichia coli recipients via a small 5·3 MDa plasmid encoding for an unusual β-lactamase produced in relatively large quantities. The enzyme, designated LAT-1, exhibited a highly basic isoelectric point (pI = 9·4) and its hydrolytic activity resembled closely that of a class-I chromosomal cephalosporinase. In vitro, LAT-1 hydrolysed cephaloridine, cephalothin and cephalexin more rapidly than penicillins. A slow hydrolysis of cefoxitin, ceftibuten, ceftazidime and cefotaxime was also observed. The enzyme was inhibited by low concentrations of aztreonam and cloxacillin but it was virtually unaffected by clavulanate. Under stringent conditions, the LAT-1 encoding plasmid did not hybridize with probes specific for TEM-1 and Enterobacter cloacae AmpC β-lactamase genes. The plasmid was not self-transferable but was readily mobilized by a conjugative R-plasmid harboured by the same K. pneumoniae strain.