Cephaloridine resistance in Gram-negative bacteria isolated in Scotland

Abstract

The incidence of cephaloridine resistance (minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC > 8mg L−1) in isolates from urinary tract infections was 45.1 % in Glasgow, 22.6% in Dundee and 25.9% in Edinburgh. The incidence of ampicillin resistance (MIC > 8 mg L−1) was even higher:- being 45.2% in Dundee and 48.5% in Edinburgh. In Glasgow, the incidence was 71.9% which is the highest proportion of ampicillin resistance reported in the United Kingdom. The cephaloridine resistant strains were examined for β-lactamase production. Amongst these strains 50.8% produced only a chromosomal β-lactamase, whereas 47.9% produced β-lactamases which were potentially plasmid-mediated on the basis of biochemical tests. Only 1 % of the resistant strains produced no detectable β-lactamase.