Degree
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Major(s)
Biochemistry; Microbiology
Document Type
Immediate Campus-Only Restricted Access
Abstract
Dicloxacillin (diclox) is a β-lactam antibiotic that is commonly used clinically. It is structurally similar to cloxacillin (clox) which is used to differentiate extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing (ESBL) and AmpC-β-lactamase producing Enterobacterales by inhibiting the AmpC phenotype when combined with cefoxitin (FOX) but not ESBLs. However, clox sees little use clinically. The aims of this study are to determine if diclox demonstrates equivalent in vitro activity to clox as an inhibitor of ESBL enzymes. This was tested by performing modified Kirby-Bauer disk methods on veterinary Enterobacterales isolates. Results were categorized based on if isolates regained susceptibility to cefpodoxime (CPD) or FOX with the addition of diclox or clox. Diclox’s ability to reverse resistance was comparable to clox in various species of phenotypes of Enterobacterales. This supports further investigation into the clinical utility of diclox as a β-lactamase inhibitor.
Date Defended
4-23-2026
Thesis Director
Cooper Brookshire
Second Committee Member
Keun Seok Seo
Third Committee Member
Matthew Peaple
Recommended Citation
Buck, Martin Z., "Repurposing Dicloxacillin as a β-Lactamase Inhibitor to Restore Cephalosporin Activity Against Gram-Negative Pathogens" (2026). Honors Theses. 211.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/honorstheses/211
