[Beta-lactamases of Campylobacter spp. and their use as epidemiologic markers]

The tests of 64 clinical strains of Campylobacter jejuni and 69 strains isolated from hens revealed beta-lactamases in 96.99 per cent of the cultures. The detected enzymes more frequently splitted oxacillin and ampicillin among 5 betalactams used as the substrates (ampicillin, azlocillin, oxacillin, cefoperazon and cefotaxime). On the whole 24 spectra of the beta-lactamase activity with the evident domination of the AmAzOxCfpCtx spectrum (29.69 per cent) were detected in both the clinical strains and the strains isolated from the hens. A marked correlation of the beta-lactamase spectra of the strains circulating in the humans and hens was observed. Two strains of C. jejuni isolated from the persons of the same family were studied and correlation of their beta-lactamase spectra was noted. The expediency of the determination of the beta-lactamase spectra for the interspecies typing of Campylobacter spp. was suggested.