Transferable resistance to cefotaxime in nosocomial Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli strains due to their production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase in Slovakia.

Transferable resistance to cefotaxime was demonstrated in 21 nosocomial strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli subsequently isolated from patients in two large University clinics. Using the double-disk diffusion test, we could detect, in each such strain, as well as in E. coli 3110 K-12 transconjugants after the transfer, the production of an Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL). Ceftibuten was demonstrated to be effective against the majority of strains studied.