Diversity of ampicillin-resistance genes in Haemophilus influenzae in Japan and the United States.
Clinical isolates of Haemophilus influenzae from Japan (n = 296) and the United States (n = 100) were tested by the microdilution method for susceptibility in vitro to 10 beta-lactam antibiotics and molecular mechanisms of beta-lactam resistance. For all isolates, PCR was used to identify six elements, including beta-lactamase-producing ampicillin (AMP)-resistance (BLPAR) and beta-lactamase-nonproducing AMP-resistance (BLNAR) genes as follows: (1) TEM-1 type beta-lactamase gene, (2) ROB-1 type beta-lactamase gene, (3) part of normal ftsI gene encoding PBP3, which is involved in septal peptidoglycan synthesis, (4) a portion of the ftsI gene possessing some amino acid substitutions commonly detected in BLNAR strains, (5) p6 gene encoding P6 membrane proteins specific to H. influenzae, and (6) serotype b capsule gene. In Japanese and U.S. isolates, respective prevalences of each resistance class in Japan and the United States were 55.1% and 46% for beta-lactamase-nonproducing, AMP-susceptible (BLNAS); 3.0% and 26% for the TEM-1 type beta-lactamase gene; 0% and 10% for the ROB-1 type; 26.4% and 13% for low-BLNAR with a low degree of AMP resistance; and 13.2% and 0% for BLNAR strains. A few remaining isolates were beta-lactamase-producing strains with a mutation in the ftsI gene. MICs of all beta-lactam agents against low-BLNAR strains were 2-8 times higher than against BLNAS. MICs of cephalosporin antibiotics against BLNAR strains were 16-32 times higher than against BLNAS. The rank order of beta-lactam MIC90 values against BLNAR strains was piperacillin = ceftriaxone = cefditoren (0.25 microg/ml), meropenem (0.5), cefotaxime (1), AMP = cefpodoxime (8), cefdinir (16), amoxicillin (16), and cefaclor (64). Serotype b isolates were few in both countries (2.4% in Japan, 3% in the United States). Differences in proportions of respective AMP-resistant genes in H. influenzae isolates between the two countries might reflect differences in antibiotic agents ordinarily given to outpatients with community-acquired bacterial infections.
Hasegawa
Keiko
K
Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences & Graduate School of Infection Control Sciences, Kitasato University, Tokyo, 108-8641, Japan.
Yamamoto
Kentarou
K
Chiba
Naoko
N
Kobayashi
Reiko
R
Nagai
Kensuke
K
Jacobs
Michael R
MR
Appelbaum
Peter C
PC
Sunakawa
Keisuke
K
Ubukata
Kimiko
K
D000668:Ampicillin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007564:Japan; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014481:United States; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D047090:beta-Lactams
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D047090:beta-Lactams; D001618:beta-Lactamases