SCREENING METHODS FOR DETECTION OF BETA-LACTAMASES IN GRAM-NEGATIVE BACTERIA

A number of β-lactamase screening methods for the detection of β-lactamases in staphylococci, haemophilus or gonococci were applied to 60 Gram-negative rods belonging to different genera and species, and the results were compared with those obtained by the iodometric assay.Two of the screening methods appeared to be useful for indication of constitutive β-lactamase production, one indicating primarily the breakdown of penicillins, the other the break down of cephalosporins. We suggest that these tests should be used as supplement to the ordinary sensitivity testing. © 1979, by The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.