20 Chapter 2 Summary Antibiotic resistance is an increasing problem. Particularly in gram-negative bacteria, there is a wide variety of resistance mechanisms affecting different antibiotics, e.g. the beta-lactam group. Besides the already common extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL), the AmpC beta-lactamases make a significant contribution to resistance in gram-negative bacteria. Some of these resistance mechanisms are already intrinsically present on the bacterium’s chromosome, but can also be transferred from bacteria to bacteria on plasmids. The latter may be a significant factor in the spread and increase of antibiotic resistance in healthcare. This article has been written to provide more insight into the background of AmpC beta-lactamases, as well as epidemiology and diagnostics. Hopefully, it can provide tools for microbiologists or clinical infectious disease specialists for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of further transmission of this resistance mechanism.
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