β-LACTAMASE PRODUCING GRAM NEGATIVE BACTERIA: MAIN ISSUES, DIAGNOSTIC METHODS AND MEANS OF REDUCING THEIR BURDEN IN ROMANIA

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a globally recognized healthcare problem. Β-lactam resistance în Gram negative bacteria, mediated through mecanisms like ESBLs (extended spectrum beta-lactamases), cephalosporinases and carbapenemases, is one of the most important. This study aims to identify the most important tests which can be applied in the laboratory in order to correctly identify Gram-negative bacteria (Enterobacterales, Pseudomonas spp., Acidentobacter spp.) which are resistant to this class of antibiotics and their resistance mechanisms, apply them on the microorganisms isolated in a clinical hospital from Bucharest, Romania, describe and report the findings, followed by the proposal of measures that can reduce the burden of these bacteria and their resistance mechanisms. In order to support the national effort in the fight against the antimicrobial resistance phenomenon, a new phenotipic laboratory identification test is proposed, using resources available in Romania. Keywords: antimicrobial resistance, β-lactamase, carbapenemase