M.H Moshafi - Assistant Professor of Microbiology
Sh. Mansouri - Associate Professor of Microbiology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Kerman, Iran
M Salajeghe - Pharmacist

β-lactamases are enzymes which inactivate the β-lactam antibacterial agents and are one of the major causes of resistance against these drugs. Recently there are reports on the isolation of bacteria which does not produce β-lactamase, but are resistant to penicillins. In the present study, β-laclamase production was determined using iodometric method on ۱۵۰ ampicillin resistance Escherichia coli isolates from urinary tract infections (UTI) and fecal samples. These strains were resistance to both ampicillin and the combination of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. They were identified as non-β-lactamase producers by iodometric method. Minimum inhibitory concentration for ampicillin in these strains were >۵۱۲ µg/ml. This is the first report on the identification of ampicillin resistance β-lactamase negative E. coli in Iran.

β-lactamase, E. coli, Ampicillin