Metal resistance in Acinetobacter and its relation to beta-lactamase production.

Thirty nine clinical isolates of Acinetobacter belonging to six species were tested for resistance to 20 metal ions and their ability to produce beta-lactamase. Fifty two percent of the strains produced beta-lactamase. beta-Lactamase producers and non-producers were almost equally distributed in the different species. A. baumannii was the predominant biotype and was found to be most resistant to metals. Resistance to mercury was prevalent in beta-lactamase-producing A. baumannii only. Silver resistant strains of A. baumannii produced beta-lactamase. Sensitivity and resistance to copper and cadium was equally distributed between beta-lactamase producers and non-producers. beta-Lactamase-producer and -non-producer strains were uniformly sensitive to cadmium except Acinetobacter genospecies 1.