Distribución y caracterización molecular de beta-lactamasas en bacterias Gram negativas en Colombia (2001-2016)

Beta-lactamases are enzymes with hydrolytic activity over beta-lactam antibiotics, and are the main mechanism of resistance 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 are leaving very limited therapeutic options in hospital acquired infections and those coming from the community. In Colombia, surveillance networks and research groups began studying them at the end of the 90´s. Many of these enzymes have been molecularly characterized showing different variants, high prevalence and dissemination among medium and high complexity hospitals, and a high clinical impact. Furthermore, many studies in Colombia have demonstrated their high endemicity. 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 conducted a review of the different enzymes variants, geographic distribution and molecular characterization of these beta-lactamases in Colombia; also it is a description of the information available in the literature of studies conducted from the late 1990s to 2016, providing an overview of the beta-lactamases circulating in different regions of Colombia, their increase over time and clinical implications.