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Molecular characterization of rpoB mutations conferring cross-resistance to rifamycins on methicillin-resistant
T A Wichelhaus1, V Schäfer, V Brade
1Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
|October 30, 1999
Abstract:
Mutations of the rpoB gene conferring resistance to rifampin were analyzed in 40 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates obtained from six countries. Interestingly, the majority of clinical isolates showed multiple mutations within rpoB. The amino acid substitution 481His-->Asn was the most prevalent one, capable of conferring low-level resistance on its own. Cross-resistance to rifampin, rifabutin, and rifapentine was demonstrated for all mutants identified. The level of resistance to rifamycins correlated with both the mutation position and type of amino acid substitution.