Mechanisms of resistance to clinically significant antibiotics in strains of bacteria of the genus Bacillus isolated from samples obtained from a medical institution

Isolates of bacterial strains dominating on the surfaces of medical laboratory equipment for the selection of blood tests were obtained. Pure cultures of these bacteria are identified as Bacillus cereus HSA01, Bacillus cereus HSA12, Bacillus cereus HSA03, Bacillus subtilis HSA06, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens HSA09. The resistance of bacteria to a number β-lactam antibiotics and spectinomycin was determined. All strains are resistant to penicillin and ampicillin with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) from 256 to 2048 μg/ml, as well as to cephalosporin antibiotics with a MIC value from 2 to 2048 μg/ml. Bacterial resistance to spectinomycin used in patients with allergy to penicillins and cephalosporins is in the MIC range from 16 to 256 μg/ml.
In B. cereus HSA01, resistance to ampicillin and cefuroxime is due to the operation of efflux pumps, to ceftazidime is provided by the action of metal-β-lactamases (MBL), and to penicillin is explained by the operation of both these systems. High resistance to ampicillin B. cereus HSA12 is provided by the action of MBL, to cefuroxime – by efflux activity, while resistance to ceftazidime is accompanied by the presence of MBL and the action of efflux pumps. In B. cereus HSA03, resistance to penicillin, ampicillin, cefepime, and ceftazidime is explained by efflux activity, to cefazolin and ceftazidime is provided by MBL, and to ampicillin and ceftazidime is due to the presence of both MBL and efflux. The resistance of B. subtilis HSA06 to penicillin and ampicillin is provided only by MBL activity. In B. amyloliquefaciens HSA09, resistance to ampicillin is explained by both the presence of MBL and efflux pumps, and to penicillin is provided only by the action of efflux.
Thus, in the studied group of bacilli, resistance to penicillin, ampicillin and a number of cephalosporin derivatives is provided, depending on the strain and the specific antibiotic, of metal-β-lactamase and/or efflux pumps. Pumps function due to the electrochemical potential of the cell membrane and belong to the group of secondary transporters.

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