The Nordic Committee on GSK923295 mouse Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (NordicAST) categorises ESBLs into three broad categories, ESBLA, ESBLM and ESBLCARBA according to the classification suggested by Giske et al. [18]. The ESBLA- group consists of the classical

ESBLs, which are inhibited by clavulanic acid. The group of miscellaneous ESBLs (ESBLM) contains plasmid-mediated AmpC and several of the OXA-enzymes. The last category of ESBLs, the ESBLCARBA, consists of enzymes that have the ability selleck compound to inactivate carbapenems. In this study, Salmonella- and Shigella-isolates classified as ESBLA and/or ESBLM were included according to genotype. All isolates belonging to the ESBLM-group were AmpC-genotypes. Several Enterobacteriaceae have chromosomally encoded AmpC-genes but normally the gene expression of these genes is down-regulated [18]. Within genus Salmonella the AmpC-gene is not present in the chromosomal genome and AmpC-producing Salmonella are thus a product of plasmid

mediated AmpC (pAmpC) [19]. To ensure appropriate treatment and to minimize the risk of spread to other patients it is important to detect ESBL-producing strains as early as possible [20]. The fecal carriage rate of ESBL-producing selleck bacteria in healthy populations is increasing, and effective screening-methods for surveillance purposes become increasingly important [8]. Various

methods for ESBL-detection have been described, both direct screening on clinical specimens and screening of bacterial isolates [21]. In Norway, clinically relevant strains are routinely tested for the presence of ESBLs, but presently there are guidelines neither on indications nor microbiological strategies for fecal screening. A recent report from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) suggests that patients transferred from hospitals abroad into intensive care units or dialysis units should be screened for fecal carriage of ESBL [22]. However, hospital laboratories may apply different approaches for ESBL screening [23]. In recent years, a variety of ESBL screening media have become commercially available, some which uses chromogenic technology for the direct ESBL-detection in fecal samples. These ESBL screening 5-Fluoracil molecular weight media are designed to detect and identify ESBL-producing bacteria among the whole Enterobacteriaceae family. The identification of different bacterial species on ESBL screening media is generally based on the enzymatic degradation of different carbohydrates and peptides. Salmonella, and some species of Shigella, have different sugar degradation profiles than the most predominant cultivatable species within normal fecal flora. So far, most published studies have focused on ESBL-detection in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp.