oxacillinase48

Oxacillinase-48, often abbreviated as OXA-48, is a carbapenemase, which is a type of enzyme produced by some bacteria. These enzymes are significant because they can break down carbapenem antibiotics, a class of last-resort drugs used to treat severe bacterial infections. OXA-48 belongs to the Ambler class D beta-lactamases. Its discovery was first reported in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from a patient in Turkey in 2001. The gene encoding OXA-48 is typically located on a plasmid, which allows it to be easily transferred between different bacteria, contributing to its spread. This horizontal gene transfer is a major mechanism by which antibiotic resistance propagates within bacterial populations. Infections caused by bacteria producing OXA-48 can be difficult to treat as they are resistant to a broad spectrum of antibiotics, including carbapenems like imipenem, meropenem, and ertapenem, as well as many other beta-lactam antibiotics. The prevalence of OXA-48 carbapenemases varies geographically, but it has been detected in numerous countries worldwide across various bacterial species, most commonly Enterobacteriaceae such as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. Effective infection control measures and surveillance are crucial for managing the spread of OXA-48 producing bacteria.