Shahid Ahmed Abbasi, Karamat Ahmed Karamat, Abdul Hanan.
Beta-lactamase production in isolates of Moraxella catarrhalis.
J Pak Inst Med Sci Jan ;7(2)8(1,2):526-9.

This study was carried out at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi to observe beta-lactamase production in clinical isolates of Moraxella catarrhalis encountered in our region. The isolates were obtained from routine suptum specimen sent between October 1993 to October 1994 and confirmed by biochemical reactions. Filter paper acidometric test was employed,for beta-lactamase detection. Antibiotic susceptibilities of these isolates for penicillin and augrnentin (amoxycillin + clavulanic acid) were also tested. Out of a total of 32 isolates tested, 22 (68.7%) were fond positive for beta-lactamase production. Penicillin resistance was found in 18 isolates (56.5%). No resistance was ,found against augrnentin. Beta-lactamase production is a common occurrence amongst the isolates of. M. catarrhalis in our set up. Some of the enzyme producing isolates appear sensitive to penicillin on disc diffusion hence penicillin sensitivity should be reported after testing for enzyme production. Clavulanic acid present in augrnentin is a potent inhibitor of beta-lactamase produced by M. catarrhalis.

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