Genetic environment of OXA-2 beta-lactamase producing Gram-negative bacilli from a tertiary referral hospital

OXA-2 type beta lactamses belong to Ambler molecular class D and functional Group 2d.These types of beta lactamases are characterized by their high hydrolytic spectrum of activity against cloxacillin and oxacillin, and are poorly inhibited by clavulanic acid.Presence of this gene was first reported in Pseudomonas in France 1 , in Escherichia coli from Israel 2 , and in India it was reported in E. coli in 2007 3 .However, there is no knowledge regarding genetic environment and gene location of this resistant determinant from this part of the world.Our study reports presence of bla OXA-2 within IncF plasmid in a tertiary referral hospital of north-east India.This study was conducted in the department of Microbiology, Assam University, Silchar.A total number of 476 consecutive, non-duplicates, Gram-negative rods consisting of members of enterobacteriaceae family and non-fermenting Gram-negative rods were isolated from different clinical specimens spanning a period of 12 months (March 2012 to February 2013) from different Wards/Clinics of Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Assam, India (Table ).Screening and confirmation for extended spectrum beta lactamases (eSBLs) was done as per Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines 4 .Multiplex PCR was performed to characterize eSBL genes 1 .Reactions were run under the following conditions: initial denaturation 94°C for 5 min, 33 cycles of 94 °C for 35 sec, 51°C for one min,