Haemophilus parainfluenzae causing sexually transmitted urethritis. Report of a case and evidence for a beta-lactamase plasmid mobilizable to Escherichia coli by an Inc-W plasmid.
A multiple antibiotic resistance, beta-lactamase-producing strain of Haemophilus parainfluenzae was isolated from a patient with sexually transmitted urethritis that was contracted in Northwest Africa. The strain was found to harbor a small (3.2 megadaltons) plasmid encoding for beta-lactamase production, which was successfully mobilized to Escherichia coli in triparental mating experiments by means of a broad host-range Inc-W conjugative plasmid. Since H. parainfluenzae is believed to be a source and reservoir for the spread of beta-lactamase plasmids to other bacterial species, such a plasmid mobilization may suggest a new possible means for resistance plasmid dissemination.
Facinelli
B
B
Institute of Microbiology, University of Ancona Medical School, Italy.
Montanari
M P
MP
Varaldo
P E
PE
D000328:Adult; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D006190:Haemophilus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011815:R Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D014526:Urethritis / Q000382:microbiology*; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000235:genetics*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D001618:beta-Lactamases