Serotype 19f multiresistant pneumococcal clone harboring two erythromycin resistance determinants (erm(B) and mef(A)) in South Africa.
One hundred eighteen erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (ERSP) strains (MICs of > or = 0.5 microg/ml) from five laboratories serving the private sector in South Africa were analyzed for the genes encoding resistance to macrolides. Sixty-seven ERSP strains (56.8%) contained the erm(B) gene, and 15 isolates (12.7%) contained the mef(A) gene. Thirty-six isolates (30.5%) harbored both the erm(B) and mef(A) genes and were highly resistant to erythromycin and clindamycin. DNA fingerprinting by BOX-PCR and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis identified 83% of these strains as belonging to a single multiresistant serotype 19F clone.
McGee
L
L
MRC/SAIMR/WITS Pneumococcal Diseases Research Unit, South African Institute for Medical Research, Johannesburg, South Africa. lesmcgee@hotmail.com
Klugman
K P
KP
Wasas
A
A
Capper
T
T
Brink
A
A
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple / Q000235:genetics*; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012703:Serotyping; D013019:South Africa; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; C117866:MefA protein, Streptococcus; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D004917:Erythromycin; D008780:Methyltransferases; C035181:rRNA (adenosine-O-2'-)methyltransferase