High rate of transmission of penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae between parents and children.
Transmission of Streptococcus pneumoniae between children and their parents was evaluated in 29 pairs from 25 families. The serotypes of 35 pneumococcal isolates from 18 (62.1%) of 29 child-parent pairs were identical. Of the 35 isolates, 23 showed intermediate resistance and 10 were fully resistant to penicillin G. PCR indicated that all 35 strains had at least one alteration in penicillin-binding protein genes pbp1a, pbp2x, and pbp2b and 33 strains had macrolide resistance genes mef(A) and/or erm(B). As a result, the PCR patterns of 16 of 18 pairs were identical. Molecular typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed that 12 pairs were indistinguishable, 3 pairs were closely related, 2 pairs were possibly related, and only one pair was different. Our data indicate the presence of a high rate of transmission of penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae between children and their parents.
Hoshino
Kazuhiko
K
Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan. khoshino@net.nagasaki-u.ac.jp
Watanabe
Hiroshi
H
Sugita
Rinya
R
Asoh
Norichika
N
Ntabaguzi
Simon Angelo
SA
Watanabe
Kiwao
K
Oishi
Kazunori
K
Nagatake
Tsuyoshi
T
D000328:Adult; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D010406:Penicillins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D010406:Penicillins