ESBLs: A Clear and Present Danger?

Extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) are enzymes produced by a variety of Gram negative bacteria which confer an increased resistance to commonly used antibiotics. They are a worrying global public health issue as infections caused by such enzyme-producing organisms are associated with a higher m...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rishi H.-P. Dhillon, John Clark
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Critical Care Research and Practice
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/625170
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850172570754613248
author Rishi H.-P. Dhillon
John Clark
author_facet Rishi H.-P. Dhillon
John Clark
author_sort Rishi H.-P. Dhillon
collection DOAJ
description Extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) are enzymes produced by a variety of Gram negative bacteria which confer an increased resistance to commonly used antibiotics. They are a worrying global public health issue as infections caused by such enzyme-producing organisms are associated with a higher morbidity and mortality and greater fiscal burden. Coupled with increasing prevalence rates worldwide and an ever diminishing supply in the antibiotic armamentarium, these enzymes represent a clear and present danger to public health. This article aims to give an overview of the current situation regarding ESBLs, with a focus on the epidemiology and management of such infections.
format Article
id doaj-art-d008b58e75df44ad8164728bc25b85b3
institution OA Journals
issn 2090-1305
2090-1313
language English
publishDate 2012-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Critical Care Research and Practice
spelling doaj-art-d008b58e75df44ad8164728bc25b85b32025-08-20T02:20:03ZengWileyCritical Care Research and Practice2090-13052090-13132012-01-01201210.1155/2012/625170625170ESBLs: A Clear and Present Danger?Rishi H.-P. Dhillon0John Clark1Department of Medical Microbiology, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Fulham Palace Road, London W6 8RF, UKEpsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, Wrythe Lane, Carshalton, Surrey SM5 1AA, UKExtended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) are enzymes produced by a variety of Gram negative bacteria which confer an increased resistance to commonly used antibiotics. They are a worrying global public health issue as infections caused by such enzyme-producing organisms are associated with a higher morbidity and mortality and greater fiscal burden. Coupled with increasing prevalence rates worldwide and an ever diminishing supply in the antibiotic armamentarium, these enzymes represent a clear and present danger to public health. This article aims to give an overview of the current situation regarding ESBLs, with a focus on the epidemiology and management of such infections.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/625170
spellingShingle Rishi H.-P. Dhillon
John Clark
ESBLs: A Clear and Present Danger?
Critical Care Research and Practice
title ESBLs: A Clear and Present Danger?
title_full ESBLs: A Clear and Present Danger?
title_fullStr ESBLs: A Clear and Present Danger?
title_full_unstemmed ESBLs: A Clear and Present Danger?
title_short ESBLs: A Clear and Present Danger?
title_sort esbls a clear and present danger
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/625170
work_keys_str_mv AT rishihpdhillon esblsaclearandpresentdanger
AT johnclark esblsaclearandpresentdanger