Carriage of ESBL and AmpC-Positive Enterobacteriaceae in Gastrointestinal Tract of Healthy Community Subjects and Hospitalized Patients and Detection of blaCTX-M Gene in ESBL Positive Isolates.

ABSTRACT

Aim: The study aimed at analyzing ESBL and AmpC positive Enterobacteriaceae in the gastrointestinal tracts of healthy community subjects and hospitalized patients and detection of blaCTX-M type gene in ESBL positive isolates. Methods: Bacteria were isolated from stool samples of the study population. Production of ESBL-type beta-lactamases was screened by double-disk synergy test as well as automated system, and AmpC enzyme production was detected by the AmpC disk test. ESBL positive isolates were subjected to detection of the blaCTX-M gene. Results: A total of 792 stool samples (50% from healthy subjects and 50% from hospitalized patients) were studied. The prevalence rates of ESBL-positive Enterobacteriaceae were 9.3% in hospitalized patients and 4.4% in healthy community subjects. Production of the AmpC enzyme was detected in