摘要：Integrons have been recognised as important contributors to the acquisition and dissemination ofantibiotic resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. In a collection of 19 multi-antibiotic resistant Gram-negative clinical isolates, 47 per cent (9/19) of strains were found to contain one or more integron,using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based screening method. Resistance gene cassettes withinthe integrons were amplified, sequenced and characterised. Antibiotic susceptibility testingdemonstrated that resistance phenotypes correlated with the resistance conferred by gene cassettesidentified. PCR-screening for integrons and gene cassettes provides a rapid technique for the identifi-cation of genetic determinants of resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. Such screening could assistin guiding treatment regimens and complement existing antibiotic resistance surveillance programsby providing information on molecular mechanisms of both resistance and resistance dissemination
关键词：antibiotic resistance; polymerase chain reaction screening; integrons resistance sur veillance;programs
