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Activity of human beta-defensins 2 and 3 against ESBL-producing Klebsiella strains.

OBJECTIVES
To test the bactericidal activity of human beta-defensins (hBDs) 2 and 3 against extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella strains.


METHODS
Thirty-six Klebsiella pneumoniae and seventeen Klebsiella oxytoca ESBL-producing isolates from nosocomial infections were tested. The bactericidal activity of recombinantly synthesized hBD-2 and -3 was tested and the results were given either as lethal doses killing > or = 90% of bacteria (LD90s) or as MBCs (> or = 99.9% killing).


RESULTS
Except for one intermediately susceptible strain (MBC = 25 mg/L), all other ESBL-producing strains were highly susceptible to both defensins (LD90s and MBCs < or = 12.5 mg/L).


CONCLUSIONS
The results underline the high efficacy of hBD-2 and -3 against ESBL-producing Klebsiella, making both defensins attractive candidates as antimicrobial agents to combat these increasingly troublesome bacteria.