Prospective survey of colonization and infection caused by expanded-spectrum-beta-lactamase-producing members of the family Enterobacteriaceae in an intensive care unit

Abstract

The occurrence of expanded-spectrum-beta-lactamase-producing strains was prospectively studied in 56 patients in an intensive care unit. Ten patients were infected or colonized; some of these patients had asymptomatic intestinal colonization. Four different expanded-spectrum beta-lactamases were identified and used as epidemiological markers to survey nosocomial infections.