Characterization of major clones of antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in New Zealand by multilocus sequence typing.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between New Zealand isolates of antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and internationally widespread resistant clones.


METHODS
Fifty-nine isolates representing both invasive and non-invasive pneumococci from multiple locations, serotypes and years were analysed by multilocus sequence typing.


RESULTS
Major international clones, including Spain(23F)-1, France(9V)-3 and Taiwan(19F)-14, were found to be present in New Zealand. A one-allele variant of the Taiwan(19F)-14 clone (aroE 15-->4, ST 271) was particularly prominent.


CONCLUSIONS
Antibiotic-resistant pneumococci have not evolved de novo in New Zealand, but were introduced to the country during the early 1990s.
Bean
David C
DC
Plant and Microbial Science Department, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. d.c.bean@qmul.ac.uk
Klena
John D
JD
D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics