Review article

Detection of beta-lactamases

Branka Bedenić

Abstract

There are different methods for detection of ß-lactamases. The method that will be used depends on the material, type of enzyme and urgency of results. Most ß-lactamases produced by gram-positive organisms are inducible enzymes that appear in significant amounts only in the presence of an inducer. It is easier to detect ß-lactamase production in gram-positive organisms because they produce these enzymes in higher amounts and they are secreted extracellulary. Gram-negative organisms produce ß-lactamases that are located intracellulary in the periplasmic space and it is therefore much more dificult to detect them. In most cases the enzymes must be released from the cells by sonication or osmotic shock. The exceptions are N. gonorrhoeae, H. influenze, B fragilis. In these strains there is little or no barrier separating enzyme and substrate. The methods most frequently used for the detection of ß-lactamase are acidimetric, iodometric, microbiological, chromogenic and fluorescent methods.

Keywords

beta-lactamase

Hrčak ID:

194700

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/194700

Publication date:

1.12.1993.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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