Ask A Scientist© Molecular Biology Archive

name      Gloria
status       other
age          40s

Question -   Do you know of any reference to
intrinsic resistance or any other
kind of resistance of Acinetobacter baumanni and
Ceftazidime?
------------------------
Ceftazidime is an antibiotic of the beta-lactam
family. Resistance by betalactamases (enzymes that
inactivate the antibiotic) has become a problem with
many bacterial species. Such resistance is acquired
after sublethal exposure to the antibotic, often by
the uptake of the specific gene from other species. In
other words, these bacteria do not reinvent the wheel,
but 'steal' the trick from others.
This applies also to Acinetobacter baumannii.
Especially nosocomial infections (acquired in the
hospital) are at risk to be caused by multiresistant
A. baumannii strains, and they are frequently
resistant to betalactams, including ceftazidime.

Trudy wassenaar
Curator of the Virtual Museum of Bacteria
www.bacteriamuseum.org
=========================================================