A substance which stops an enzyme from working, thereby neutralising it. Beta-lactamase inhibitors are drugs that are co-administered with beta-lactam antimicrobials to overcome antimicrobial resistance by inhibiting serine beta-lactamases.

A short DNA sequences that can move from one site to another on a chromosome or to another chromosome or plasmid.

A means of testing for antimicrobial resistance mechanism. It involves testing a range of individual antimicrobials and other reagents, the ‘panel’. The pattern of resistance can be interpreted to predict the mechanism. This is often performed by an automated system. These systems have enhanced computer software for analysing test results for atypical patterns and unusual resistance phenotypes.

The innate ability of a bacterial species to resist the action of an antibiotic owing to the bacteria’s structural or functional characteristics.