Serotype 19f multiresistant pneumococcal clone harboring two erythromycin resistance determinants (erm(B) and mef(A)) in South Africa

L McGee; K P Klugman; A Wasas; T Capper; A Brink

doi:10.1128/AAC.45.5.1595-1598.2001

Serotype 19f multiresistant pneumococcal clone harboring two erythromycin resistance determinants (erm(B) and mef(A)) in South Africa

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2001 May;45(5):1595-8. doi: 10.1128/AAC.45.5.1595-1598.2001.

Authors

L McGee¹, K P Klugman, A Wasas, T Capper, A Brink

Affiliation

¹ MRC/SAIMR/WITS Pneumococcal Diseases Research Unit, South African Institute for Medical Research, Johannesburg, South Africa. [email protected]

Abstract

One hundred eighteen erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (ERSP) strains (MICs of > or = 0.5 microg/ml) from five laboratories serving the private sector in South Africa were analyzed for the genes encoding resistance to macrolides. Sixty-seven ERSP strains (56.8%) contained the erm(B) gene, and 15 isolates (12.7%) contained the mef(A) gene. Thirty-six isolates (30.5%) harbored both the erm(B) and mef(A) genes and were highly resistant to erythromycin and clindamycin. DNA fingerprinting by BOX-PCR and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis identified 83% of these strains as belonging to a single multiresistant serotype 19F clone.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
Bacterial Proteins*
DNA Fingerprinting
DNA, Bacterial / analysis
Drug Resistance, Multiple / genetics*
Erythromycin / pharmacology*
Humans
Membrane Proteins / genetics*
Methyltransferases / genetics*
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Serotyping
South Africa
Streptococcus pneumoniae / drug effects
Streptococcus pneumoniae / genetics*
Streptococcus pneumoniae / immunology

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Bacterial Proteins
DNA, Bacterial
MefA protein, Streptococcus
Membrane Proteins
Erythromycin
Methyltransferases
rRNA (adenosine-O-2'-)methyltransferase