Clinical implications of inducible beta-lactamase activity in gram-negative bacteremia in children

Abstract

Background. Organisms of the Enterobacter spp., Serratia marcescens, Citrobacter freundii, indole-positive Proteus spp., Providencia spp. and Morganella morganii (ESCaPPM) group are a common cause of hospital-acquired bacteremia and share the potential to develop beta-lactam resistance during therapy. The emergence of such resistance may have adverse consequences, but the frequency with which this occurs has not been studied in children. It has been suggested that such organisms should be treated with combination antimicrobials or carbapenems, but the optimal regimen is uncertain. Aim. To determine the frequency with which beta-lactam resistance develops during ESCaPPM sepsis in children and..