Molecular characterisation of Hungarian macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates, including three highly resistant strains with the mef gene.
The macrolide resistance of 304 Hungarian Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates was investigated. Antibiotic sensitivity testing was performed in air and in 5% CO(2). More erythromycin resistance was noted when growth was in CO(2). A resistance determinant was found in almost all isolates: erm(B) gene (87.4%), mef genes (9.2%) and one strain with the erm(TR) gene. This indicates that screening for carriage of resistance determinants should always be done in the presence of 5% CO(2). We found three isolates with mef(E), which were highly resistant to erythromycin. These contained multiple and some novel, ribosomal mutations. The most prevalent serogroups were 6, 19 and 14. Based on the PFGE pattern, we found identity between the Hungarian isolates and two PMEN clones.
Dobay
Orsolya
O
Medical Microbiology, Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, Scotland, UK.
Rozgonyi
Ferenc
F
Amyes
Sebastian G B
SG
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D020459:Genes, rRNA / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D018942:Macrolides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D009154:Mutation; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D018942:Macrolides; C117866:MefA protein, Streptococcus; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C111078:ErmTR protein, bacteria; D008780:Methyltransferases; C431709:ErmA protein, Bacteria