Transferable carbapenem-resistance in gram-negative pathogens - the threat of tomorrow

In recent years the increasing number of 3rd generation cephalosporineand carbapenem -resistant nosocomial Enterobacteriaceae is a serious problem. CTX-M-type ESBLs and AmpC-β-lactamases like CMY are worldwide predominant. In many cases β-lactamaseand additional resistance genes are located on transferable plasmids resulting in dissemination of resistanc es in all enterobacterial species. Intensive use of carbapenems in therapy results in more frequently occurrence of metallo-β-lactamases and different OXA-enzymes as well. These carbapenemases were also found in Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa often leading to servere infections [1]. Multidrug-resistance is caused by a coaction of β-lactamase production and other resistance mechanisms like porin loss or increased expression of efflux pumps. Here we report on analysis of multidrug-resistant isolates of different gram -negative species containing a fatal combination of various β-lactamase-types. Transferable carbapenem-resistance in gram-negative pathogens the threat of tomorrow