Korean J Infect Dis.  1998 Apr;30(2):126-133.

Analysis of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase TEM produced by Klebsiella Pneumoniae

• Pai H
• Kim JM
• Kwon YM
• Kim JW

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase(ESBL)-producing organisms has been increasing in Korea. We performed a study to characterize various TEM derivatives with clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae collected from 3 hospitals in Korea.
METHODS
Fifty-seven isolates of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae collected from 3 hospitals were screened by TEM-specific PCR for the carriage of TEM genes. Thirteen strains were found to have TEM-related genes. Eleven blaTEM genes were amplifed and sequenced. The transfer of resistance was tested by conjugation and isoelectric points of beta-lactamases were determined. MICs were measured to obtain a resistance pattern for each indivudual wild- type and transconjugant strain. The hydrolysis rate of TEM-52 was measured spectrophotometrically.
RESULTS
Ten strains carried plasmid-mediated CTEM-52 gene, which sequence showed the substitution of 3 amino acids compared to that of TEM-1: 104 glutamic acid --> lysine (GAG --> AAG), 182 methionine --> threonine (ATG --> ACG), and 238 glycine --> serine (GGT --> AGT). MIC showed that TEM-52 mediated a resistance to ceftazidime and aztreonam at a lower level than to cefotaxime. TEM-52 enzyme hydrolyzed cefotaxime efficiently (Vmax, 340) and showed fairly weak activity for ceftazidime (Vmax, 15.1), but very weak activity for aztreonam. The gene of TEM-52 beta-lactamases was mediated by approximately 77-kb plasmids.
CONCLUSION
From these results, we conclude that the TEM-52 beta-lactamase is a common TEM- type ESBL in K. pneumoniae in Korea.

Keyword

extended-spectrum beta-lactamase; TEM-52; Klebsiella pneumoniae

MeSH Terms

Amino Acids
Aztreonam
beta-Lactamases*
Cefotaxime
Ceftazidime
Glutamic Acid
Glycine
Hydrolysis
Isoelectric Point
Klebsiella pneumoniae*
Klebsiella*
Korea
Lysine
Methionine
Penicillinase
Plasmids
Pneumonia
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Prevalence
Serine
Threonine
Amino Acids
Aztreonam
Cefotaxime
Ceftazidime
Glutamic Acid
Glycine
Lysine
Methionine
Penicillinase
Serine
Threonine
beta-Lactamases