The prevalence of semen hyperviscosity (SHV) is estimated to be between 12-29% and can lead to male factor infertility both in vivo and in vitro. Semen is composed of fluids secreted by the male accessory glands, which contain proteins essential to the coagulation and liquefaction of semen. Hypofunction of the prostate or seminal vesicles causes abnormal viscosity of seminal fluid. Infection an...

The aminothiazolyl-cephalosporin RU 29 246, the active metabolite of the prodrug-ester HR 916, is active against strains producing the widespread plasmid-encoded TEM-1, TEM-2 and SHV-1 beta-lactamases. Except for TEM-7 the activity of RU 29 246 against strains producing extended broad spectrum beta-lactamases (TEM-3, TEM-5, TEM-6, SHV-2, SHV-4, SHV-5, CMY-1, CTX-M), however, is low. Relative hy...

Resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics has been a problem for as long as these drugs have been used in clinical practice. In clinically significant bacteria the most important mechanism of resistance is the production of one or more beta-lactamases, enzymes that hydrolyse the beta-lactam bond characteristic of this family of antibiotics. Prominent among the beta-lactamases produced by the Entero...

OBJECTIVE Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most important causes of nosocomial infections and can acquire resistant to many antimicrobials, including β-lactams. The aim of this study was to detect the prevalence of SHV type extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), antimicrobial resistance patterns of the P. aeroginusa and risk factors in hospitalized patients in two teaching hospitals in Sa...

Bacterial resistance is a serious threat to human health. The production of β-lactamase, which inactivates β-lactams is most common cause of resistance to the β-lactam antibiotics. The Class A enzymes are most frequently encountered among the four β-lactamases in the clinic isolates. Mutations in class A β-lactamases play a crucial role in substrate and inhibitor specificity. SHV and TEM type a...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBLs) have been observed in virtually all the species of family Enterobacteriaceae. The enzymes are predominantly plasmid mediated and are derived from broad-spectrum beta lactamase TEM-1, TEM-2 or SHV-1 by a limited number of mutations. This study was undertaken to characterize ESBL producers among Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneu...

OBJECTIVES To investigate the occurrence and the diversity of Ambler class A ESBLs among Enterobacteriaceae from different Portuguese clinical settings over a 2 year period (2002-04). METHODS One hundred and nine extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates from five geographically distant health institutions in Portugal were studied. ESBLs were characterized ...