! "## $ # %##& ’ ( )*+, -.)/ -’ 0.12,3*2/ )4 *-/-5*2/ %2*,)2,% 6 7778# .&#" # *%%) (9(: *) ;*3.- 23*;*3< -’ 2,’3=*4*1,>%/231 )4 2,’,*1,> %/231 *) 2-1*)3*-) 5*)%3 ,%/ .-42*)5 *%-/3,% Ambekar Abdul Wahid 1* , Gunjal Prasad Niranjan 2 , Gunjal Shraddha Prasad 2 1 Department Of Pharmaceutics, P.D.V.V.P.F’s College Of Pharmacy, Vilad Ghat; Ahmednagar – 414111 (MS) India 2 Department Of Microbiology, P.D.V.V.P.F’s Dr. Vikhe Patil Memorial Hospital And Medical College, Vilad Ghat; Ahmednagar – 414111 (MS) India Received 1831232013; Revised 1130132014; Accepted 0730232014 *Corresponding Author $ ?"$ Email: wahidambekar@gmail.com Telephone: +91 9371460020 0241 – 2347661 ,0241 – 2778044 Fax: 0241 3 2778044 %3.23 The use of the β3lactamase inhibitors in combination with the β3lactam antibiotics is currently the most successful strategy used for circumventing the resistance mechanisms. The aim of the study was to compare the in–vitro activity of ceftazidime/sulbactam and cefepime/sulbactam in combination against ESBL producing gram negative isolates. In the present study all specimens were cultured and isolates were identified by standard methods. The antimicrobial sensitivity testing was done according to CLSI guidelines by Kirby Bauer’s disc diffusion method. The breaking point for antimicrobial sensitivity testing interpretation of these combinations was provided by Venus Research Center. All readings were noted according to reference ranges provided by manufacturer for both the antibiotic combinations. @A7$& Gram negative bacilli, Ceftazidime, Cefepime, Sulbactam, Kirby Bauer’s disc. *)3.-423*-) Gram negative bacilli, continues to be an important cause of health care associated infections 1 . Treatment in India is based on empirical therapy 2 . These microorganisms have acquired a wide variety of mechanisms to resist the action of antibiotics 3 . Secretion of Extended Spectrum β 3Lactamase (ESBL) enzymes is one of the key resistance mechanisms of bacterial drug resistance 2 . The ESBL producing pathogens has become a cause of grave concern today, while dealing with infections in community, nosocomial infections or infections in critically ill patients 2 . Such a wide spread dissemination of bacterial drug resistance to a variety of β 3lactam antibiotics possess a serious threat to effective use of these antimicrobial agents 2 . ESBL enzymes are plasmid mediated enzymes & result due to mutation of TEM31, TEM32, & SHV31 2 4 . The efficacy of older broad spectrum antibiotics has been questioned with the observed advent of longer resolution times of infections, treatment relapse & treatment failure resulting in an increased morbidity & mortality 2 . The third generation cephalosporin like ceftazidime are considered good in therapeutic conditions as they are fairly safe agents for treatment of many serious infections 5 . A forth generation cephalosporin, cefepime, is bactericidal in its action with extended spectrum activity against Gram negative as well as Gram positive pathogens. Cefepime is approved for treating serious infections like pneumonia, uncomplicated & complicated urinary tract infections, skin & soft tissue infections, intra3abdominal infections & febrile neutropenia 6 . It is a current trend to use β3lactam antibiotics in combination with β 3lactamase inhibitors such as Sulbactam 7,8 . Sulbactam is competitive irreversible β 3lactamase inhibitor & has good inhibitor activity against the clinically important plasmid mediated β3lactamase & most frequently responsible for transferred drug resistance 9 . Sulbactam is approved in many countries including India, to be combined with β 3lactam antibiotics 10,11 . Choosing cephalosporin like ceftazidime and cefepime combination with sulbactam, a potent β 3lactamase inhibitor would be a strong basis of rational therapeutics. Hence the present study was carried out to observe the In vitro activity of ceftazidime/sulbactam & cefepime/sulbactam against ESBL producing Gram negative isolates. 13,.*/% )4 1,30-4% This study was carried out at Pad. Dr. Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil Foundation’s Dr. Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil Pharmacy College, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. From the period of October 2012 to January 2013. *)2/%*-) 2.*3,.* For this study samples were selected randomly & multiple but different isolates from single specimen were also considered.