Distribution and molecular characterization of beta-lactamases in Gram-negative bacteria in Colombia, 2001-2016

Beta-lactamases are enzymes with hydrolytic activity over beta-lactam antibiotics and they are the main resistance mechanism in Gram-negative bacteria. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL), AmpC, and carbapenemases have the greatest clinical and epidemiological impact in hospital settings. The increasing frequency and worldwide spread of these enzymes have limited the therapeutic options in hospital-acquired infections and those originating in the community. In Colombia, surveillance networks and research groups began studying them in the late 90s. Different variants of these enzymes have been molecularly characterized and their high prevalence and dissemination in medium and high complexity hospitals, along with a high clinical impact, have been reported. Furthermore, many studies in Colombia have evidenced high endemicity for some of these beta-lactamases, which requires an urgent implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs in order to preserve the few therapeutic options and infection control strategies to prevent and limit their dissemination. In this publication, we carried out a review of the different enzyme variants, geographic distribution, and molecular characterization of these beta-lactamases in Colombia. Additionally, we describe the available information in the literature regarding studies conducted between the late 1990s and 2016, which provide an overview of the beta-lactamases circulating in different regions of Colombia, their increase over time, and their clinical implications.