Horizontal transfer of the mutated ftsI gene from the beta-lactamase non-producing ampicillin-resistant (BLNAR) Haemophilus influenzae to a susceptible strain was examined in vitro under selection with nine oral beta-lactams (ampicillin, amoxicillin, cefprozil, cefuroxime, cefpodoxime, cefdinir, cefcapene, cefditoren, and tebipenem). Compared to the penicillins and the carbapenem, the cephalosporins showed a wide selection window for the genetic transfer.

Takahata S, Kato Y, Sanbongi Y, Maebashi K, Ida T.

Pharmaceutical Research Center, Meiji Seika Kaisha, Ltd., 760 Morooka-cho, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama 222-8567, Japan.