Epidemiology and clinical relevance of microbial resistance determinants versus anti-Gram-positive agents.
Gram-positive pathogens are a major cause of community-acquired and hospital-acquired infections, and exhibit a remarkable ability to develop antibiotic resistance. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), glycopeptide-resistant enterococci (GRE) and multidrug-resistant pneumococci are currently the major resistance challenges among Gram-positives, due to their global dissemination and overall clinical impact. The mechanisms of evolution of these resistance phenotypes are based on a diverse array of mutational events and gene transfer phenomena carried out by several types of mobile genetic elements, followed by the dissemination of successful resistant clones. Resistance to glycopeptides in staphylococci remains uncommon, likely due to fitness issues. Resistance to the new anti-Gram-positive agents (linezolid, daptomycin and tigecycline) overall remains very rare. However, a transferable resistance mechanism to linezolid, mediated by ribosomal target modification by the Cfr protein, has recently emerged among S. aureus, being a matter of raising concern. Linezolid resistance among enterococci and coagulase-negative staphylococci is also increasingly reported. Moreover, a role for antibiotic resistance has been advocated in the recent increase of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) associated with the emergence of hypervirulent strains.
Rossolini
Gian Maria
GM
Department of Molecular Biology, Section of Microbiology, University of Siena, Viale Bracci 16, I-53100 Siena, Italy. rossolini@unisi.it
Mantengoli
Elisabetta
E
Montagnani
Francesca
F
Pollini
Simona
S
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents