ESCHERICHIA HERMANNII - SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN TO BETA-LACTAMS AND PRODUCTION OF BETA-LACTAMASE

The susceptibility pattern of Escherichia hermannii, although closely related to Escherichia coil according to its biochemical patterns, was clearly distinguishable by its susceptibility to beta-lactams by both diffusion and dilution methods from E. coli penicillinase producing o r non-producing strains, Citrobacter diversus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Klebsiella oxytoca. beta-Lactamase clavulanate-sensitive activity was localized with various isoelectric points from 7.0 to 8.5. No cros s hybridization with DNA intragenic probes (bla(TEM), bla(SHV), bla(CA RB) and bla(OXY)) was observed by dot blot procedure.