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Carl Erik Nord, Mechanisms of β-Lactam Resistance in Anaerobic Bacteria, Reviews of Infectious Diseases, Volume 8, Issue Supplement_5, November-December 1986, Pages S543–S548, https://doi.org/10.1093/clinids/8.Supplement_5.S543
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Abstract
The known mechanisms of β-lactam resistance in anaerobic bacteria involve production of β-lactamases, alteration of penicillin-binding proteins, and blocking of the penetration of β-lactams through the outer membranes. The most important factor in β-lactam resistance is the production of β-lactamase. β-Lactamases in various Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, and Clostridium species have been described. β-lactam resistance in β is most commonly mediated by the production of β-lactamase, primarily of the cephalosporinase type. Studies have also shown that B. fragilis can produce a penicillinase that inactivates piperacillin and carbenicillin. Enzymes that inactivate cefoxitin and imipenem have also been found in B. fragilis. The nonfragilis Bacteroides species produce β-lactamases mainly of the penicillinase type. Recently a penicillinase from Fusobacterium nucleatum has been characterized. Among the clostridia, Clostridium butyricum, clostridium clostridiiforme and Clostridium ramosum have been shown to produce penicillinases.