title: High rate of transmission of penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae between parents and children.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan. khoshino@net.nagasaki-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoshino
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Rinya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sugita
authors.forename: Norichika
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Asoh
authors.forename: Simon Angelo
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ntabaguzi
authors.forename: Kiwao
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oishi
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagatake
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D010406:Penicillins