ABSTRACT
Since 2001, ten more OXA-48 variants have been identified. Shewanella spp. has been thought to be the original host for OXA-48-like enzymes. These enzymes strongly hydrolyze penicillins and weakly hydrolyze carbapenems, with very weak activity against broad-spectrum cephalosporins. The OXA-48-like genes are always plasmid-borne and have been located in insertion sequences. OXA-48-like carbapenemases have been identified mainly from Turkey, North African countries, the Middle East, and India. Furthermore, the emergence and outbreak of OXA-48-like producers in Korea have been reported recently. Because some OXA-48-like-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates do not exhibit resistance to broad-spectrum cephalosporins and only decreased susceptibility to carbapenems, their detection can be difficult. Adequate screening and detection methods are required to prevent and control the dissemination of OXA-48-like-producing Enterobacteriaceae.