Prevalence of AmpC and ESBL Producing E. coli and Antibacterial Effect of Allim sativum on Clinical Isolates Collected from Zahedan Hospitals

AmpC beta-lactamases are capable to hydrolyse all beta-lactam antibiotics except cefepime and carbapenems. Herbal medicines have been important sources of products for the developing countries in treating common infectious diseases and overcome the problems of resistance and side effects of the currently available antimicrobial agents. Total 410 non repetitive clinical E. coli strains recovered during 7 month, were screened for AmpC production by disc diffusion test using cefoxitin (30 µg) discs and confirmed by combined disc diffusion test using phenyl boronic acid and the MIC and MBC of Allim sativum (A. sativum) alcoholic extract against AmpC positive E. coli isolates were determined. A total of 107 of 410 isolates (26%) were cefoxitin resistant and 13 (3.1%) isolates harboured AmpC enzymes. A. sativum alcoholic extract were effective against AmpC producing E. coli isolates. There is need for a correct and reliable phenotypic test to identify AmpC beta lactamases and to discriminate between AmpC and ESBL producers and also these bioactive plants may help alleviate the problem of drug resistance.