STUDIES ON PARTICIPATION OF β-LACTAMASE AND SENSITIVITY TO CEFMETAZOLE (CMZ) IN CEFAZOLIN (CEZ)-RESISTANT STRAINS OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS

Abstract

Correlation between sensitivity to cefazolin (CEZ) and that to cefmetazole (CMZ) in Staphylococcus aureus was investigated. It was indicated that CMZ gave lower MICs against the strains with higher MICs for CEZ and that CMZ exerted a stronger bactericidal effect on the strains with similar MICs for CEZ and CMZ. Although CEZ-rcsistant strains were induced by treatment with CEZ or penicillin G, the treatment had no influence upon the antibacterial activity of CMZ.
MICs were correlated with penicillinase activities produced in CEZ-resistant strains, suggesting some relation between acquisition of the resistance and production of the enzyme.