Survey of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamases in Clinical Isolates of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae : Prevalence of TEM-52 in Korea

Two hundred ninety isolates of Escherichia coli were investigated for the production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs). Fourteen (4.8%) of the 290 strains were found to produce ESBLs. Each of the 14 strains produced one or two ESBLs, as follows: 10 strains produced TEM-52, 1 strain produced SHV-2a, 1 strain produced SHV-12, 1 strain produced a CMY-1-like enzyme, and 1 strain expressed SHV-2a and a CMY-1-like enzyme. Another two strains for which the MICs of ceftazidime and cefoxitin were high, were probable AmpC enzyme hyperproducers. Because of the high prevalence of TEM-52 in E. coli isolates, we further investigated the TEM-type ESBLs produced by Klebsiella pneumoniae in order to observe the distribution of TEM-52 enzymes among Enterobacteriaceae in Korea. All TEM enzymes produced by 12 strains of K. pneumoniae were identified as TEM-52. To evaluate the genetic relatedness among the organisms, ribotyping of TEM-52-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae was performed. The ribotyping profiles of the organisms showed similar but clearly different patterns. In conclusion, TEM-52 is the most prevalent TEM-type ESBL in Korea.