title: Mechanisms and spread of fluoroquinolone resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae.
abstract: The development of fluoroquinolones (FQs) with enhanced activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae is a potential advance in the treatment of pneumococcal infections, particularly those due to beta-lactam-resistant pneumococci. However, FQ-resistant clinical isolates selected by the older FQs have already been reported, with mutation(s) in both FQ targets conferring cross-resistance to newer FQs. It is likely that recombinational events between topoisomerase genes from related species of streptococci contribute to the spread of FQ resistance in S. pneumoniae. A scenario resembling that of the worldwide spread of resistance to beta lactams should be anticipated.
authors.affiliation: L.R.M.A., Université Paris-VI, France. Emmanuelle-Sophie.Varon@bhdc.jussieu.fr
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Varon
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gutmann
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000187:drug effects; D027101:DNA Topoisomerase IV; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; C081902:pmrA protein, Bacteria; D027101:DNA Topoisomerase IV; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II