Characterization of clinical Streptococcus pneumoniae strains from Germany with decreased susceptibility to fluoroquinolones.
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.
Reinert
Ralf René
RR
Institute of Medical Microbiology, National Reference Center for Streptococci, University of Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, D-52074 Aachen, Germany. reinert@rwth-aachen.de
Al-Lahham
Adnan
A
Lütticken
Rudolf
R
Boos
Mechthild
M
Schmitz
Franz-Josef
FJ
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*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones