Betalactamase activity in mycobacteria other than M. tuberculosis

Abstract Betalactamase activity was studied in 142 non-tuberculosis mycobacterial strains. The distribution according to species was as follows: four M. avium, 14 M. chelonae, 10 M. fortuitum, 59 M. gordonae, 55 M. kansasii. The spectrum of hydrolysis of the betalactamases was screened using an acidimetric method and the characterization was performed by analytical isoelectric focusing.