Detection of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamases in Clinical Isolates of <i>Enterobacter cloacae</i> and <i>Enterobacter aerogenes</i>

<jats:title>ABSTRACT</jats:title> <jats:p> The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) in a consecutive collection of clinical isolates of <jats:italic>Enterobacter</jats:italic> spp. The abilities of various screening methods to detect ESBLs in enterobacters were simultaneously tested. Among the 68 consecutive isolates (56 <jats:italic>Enterobacter cloacae</jats:italic> and 12 <jats:italic>Enterobacter aerogenes</jats:italic> isolates) that were analyzed for β-lactamase content, 21 (25 and 58%, respectively) possessed transferable ESBLs with pIs of 8.2 and phenotypic characteristics of SHV-type enzymes, 8 (14.3%) of the <jats:italic>E. cloacae</jats:italic> isolates produced a previously nondescribed, clavulanate-susceptible ESBL that exhibited a pI of 6.9 and that conferred a ceftazidime resistance phenotype on <jats:italic>Escherichia coli</jats:italic> transconjugants, and 2 <jats:italic>E. cloacae</jats:italic> isolates produced both of these enzymes. Among the total of 31 isolates that were considered ESBL producers, the Vitek ESBL detection test was positive for 2 (6.5%) strains, and the conventional double-disk synergy test (DDST) with amoxicillin-clavulanate and with expanded-spectrum cephalosporins and aztreonam was positive for 5 (16%) strains. Modifications of the DDST consisting of closer application of the disks (at 20 instead of 30 mm), the use of cefepime, and the use of both modifications increased the sensitivity of this test to 71, 61, and 90%, respectively. Of the 37 isolates for which isoelectric focusing failed to determine ESBLs, the Vitek test was false positive for 1 isolate and the various forms of DDSTs were false-positive for 3 isolates. </jats:p>