Clinical and microbiological aspects of linezolid resistance mediated by the cfr gene encoding a 23S rRNA methyltransferase.
The cfr (chloramphenicol-florfenicol resistance) gene encodes a 23S rRNA methyltransferase that confers resistance to linezolid. Detection of linezolid resistance was evaluated in the first cfr-carrying human hospital isolate of linezolid and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (designated MRSA CM-05) by dilution and diffusion methods (including Etest). The presence of cfr was investigated in isolates of staphylococci colonizing the patient's household contacts and clinical isolates recovered from patients in the same unit where MRSA CM-05 was isolated. Additionally, 68 chloramphenicol-resistant Colombian MRSA isolates recovered from hospitals between 2001 and 2004 were screened for the presence of the cfr gene. In addition to erm(B), the erm(A) gene was also detected in CM-05. The isolate belonged to sequence type 5 and carried staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec type I. We were unable to detect the cfr gene in any of the human staphylococci screened (either clinical or colonizing isolates). Agar and broth dilution methods detected linezolid resistance in CM-05. However, the Etest and disk diffusion methods failed to detect resistance after 24 h of incubation. Oxazolidinone resistance mediated by the cfr gene is rare, and acquisition by a human isolate appears to be a recent event in Colombia. The detection of cfr-mediated linezolid resistance might be compromised by the use of the disk diffusion or Etest method.
Arias
Cesar A
CA
Molecular Genetics and Antimicrobial Resistance Unit, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia. caa22@cantab.net
Vallejo
Martha
M
Reyes
Jinnethe
J
Panesso
Diana
D
Moreno
Jaime
J
Castañeda
Elizabeth
E
Villegas
Maria V
MV
Murray
Barbara E
BE
Quinn
John P
JP
D000081:Acetamides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000494:pharmacology; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016358:Contact Tracing; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069349:Linezolid; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D023303:Oxazolidinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / Q000235:genetics*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013839:Thiamphenicol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology
D000081:Acetamides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D023303:Oxazolidinones; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S; D002701:Chloramphenicol; C035534:florfenicol; D008780:Methyltransferases; D013839:Thiamphenicol; D000069349:Linezolid