title: Characterization of clinical Streptococcus pneumoniae strains from Germany with decreased susceptibility to fluoroquinolones.
abstract: Fourteen pneumococcal strains isolated in three nationwide studies were characterized for amino acid changes in the enzymes GyrA, GyrB, ParC and ParE, and for the in vitro activity of eight fluoroquinolones and the new non-fluorinated quinolone BMS 284756. Gemifloxacin and BMS 284756 exhibited the best in vitro activity against all 14 isolates tested. In nine of the 14 isolates mainly classical alterations in ParC (D83N/Y, S79Y/F), as well as rarer alterations such as S80P and D78N, contributed to the decreased susceptibility to fluoroquinolones. In two of the 14 isolates the classical alteration in GyrA (S81F) was found. In only one isolate did alterations in ParC and GyrA exist in parallel.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, National Reference Center for Streptococci, University of Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, D-52074 Aachen, Germany. reinert@rwth-aachen.de
authors.forename: Ralf René
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Reinert
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Lahham
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lütticken
authors.forename: Mechthild
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boos
authors.forename: Franz-Josef
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Schmitz
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones