an overview of the production of ampc and metallo-β-lactamase enzymes in escherichia coli

Escherichia coli is a gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, responsible for 90% of all community-acquired infections and 50% of hospital-acquired infections, with opportunistic infections found in intensive care unit (icu) patients. the β-lactam antibiotics, which inhibit cell wall synthesis, are known for their high efficacy and broad-spectrum activity. they also have low toxicity and provide long-term effects, making them widely used drugs against gram-negative bacteria. bacteria develop resistance to β-lactams primarily through the expression of hydrolytic enzymes, called β-lactamases, which are divided into serine β-lactamases (classes a, c, and d) and metallo-β-lactamases (class b), based on their molecular mechanism. this study aimed to clarify the mechanism of action of β-lactams against gram-negative bacilli and to emphasize the multidrug resistance of cephalosporins and carbapenems to e. coli.