Of 384 Salmonella isolates collected from 1997 to 2000 ina university hospital in Taiwan, six ceftriaxone-resistant isolatesof Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium were found in twopatients in 2000. The resistance determinants were on conjuga-tive plasmids that encoded a CMY-2-like cephalosporinase.During the study period, the proportion of CMY-2–like enzymeproducers among Escherichia coli increased rapidly from 0.2%in early 1999 to >4.0% in late 2000. Klebsiella pneumoniae iso-lates producing a CMY-2–like -lactamase did not emerge until2000. The presence of blaCMY-containing plasmids with an iden-tical restriction pattern from Salmonella, E. coli, and K. pneumo-niae isolates was found, which suggests interspecies spreadand horizontal transfer of the resistance determinant. Variousnosocomial and community-acquired infections were associat-ed with the CMY-2-like enzyme producers. Our study suggeststhat the spread of plasmid-mediated CMY-2-like β-lactamases isan emerging threat to hospitalized patients and the public inTaiwan
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