Prevalence of mefE, erm and tet(M) genes in Streptococcus pneumoniae strains from Central Italy

Int J Antimicrob Agents. 1999 Sep;13(1):29-33. doi: 10.1016/s0924-8579(99)00097-7.

Abstract

One hundred and seventy-three Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated from surveillance studies conducted in daycare centres were studied. The mefE, erm and tet(M) genes were detected in 16.2, 45.1 and 47.4% of isolates respectively. Agreement between PCR results and antibiotic susceptibility patterns was 100%. Macrolide resistance was due to the presence of erm in 73.6% of strains and to the presence of mefE in the remaining 26.4%. All tetracycline resistant strains carried the tet(M) gene. erm was associated with tet(M) in 98.7% of strains, whereas no isolate carrying mefE carried tet(M). A significant association was found between mefE and serogroup 6 (P < 0.0005) and between erm and tet(M) and serogroup 19 (P < 0.00001).

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Child
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial
  • Genes, Bacterial*
  • Humans
  • Lincosamides
  • Macrolides*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / drug effects
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / genetics*
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / isolation & purification
  • Tetracyclines / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Lincosamides
  • Macrolides
  • Tetracyclines