title: Macrolide and lincosamide resistance in staphylococcal clinical isolates in Nablus, Palestine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Macrolide and lincosamide antibiotics are used for the treatment of staphylococcal infections, especially for penicillin-allergic patients. In the present study, we evaluate the prevalence of resistance to macrolide and lincosamide antibiotics among staphylococci isolates.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 200 staphylococcal clinical isolates were collected from January 2012 to April 2013. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of erythromycin and clindamycin were determined by agar dilution method. An erythromycin-clindamycin induction test was performed for isolates that were only resistant to erythromycin. Representative erythromycin-resistant isolates were examined for erythromycin resistance genes using PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among staphylococci isolates, resistance frequencies of erythromycin and clindamycin were 65.5% and 20.5%, respectively. Erythromycin resistance was found to be mediated by putative efflux (50.4%) and target site modification (49.6%). Inducible target site modification resistance was detected in 19.1% of erythromycin-resistant isolates. Among the examined 36 staphylococci isolates, msr(A), erm(C), erm(A), and mef(A/E) genes were detected in 55.6%, 30.6%, 25%, and 0%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of the current study indicate the presence of high rates of macrolide resistance and inducible phenotypes among staphylococcal isolates. It is also essential to keep in mind variations of resistance rates among various age groups and specimen types.
authors: Department of Biology & Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
authors: Motasem
authors: M
authors: Almasri
authors: Department of Biology & Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
authors: Nael
authors: N
authors: Abu Hasan
authors: Department of Biology & Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
authors: Naela
authors: N
authors: Sabbah
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004917:Erythromycin; D006801:Humans; D055231:Lincosamides; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010641:Phenotype; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections; D013210:Staphylococcus
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D055231:Lincosamides; D004917:Erythromycin
keywords: Macrolides; erm; lincosamide; msr(A); resistance; staphylococci