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Molecular epidemiology of penicillin-resistant and ciprofloxacin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in Canada

Kimberly A Nichol1, George G Zhanel, Daryl J Hoban

  • 1Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. knichol@hsc.mb.ca

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
|January 25, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Penicillin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae shows clonal spread, but ciprofloxacin resistance does not. Ciprofloxacin-resistant strains in Canada are not primarily spreading through clonal dissemination.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genetics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of bacterial infections worldwide.
  • Antibiotic resistance, particularly to penicillin and ciprofloxacin, poses a significant public health threat.
  • Understanding the genetic basis and dissemination patterns of antibiotic resistance is crucial for effective treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the genetic diversity and dissemination mechanisms of penicillin- and ciprofloxacin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates in Canada.
  • To compare the genotypic variability associated with penicillin resistance versus ciprofloxacin resistance in S. pneumoniae.

Main Methods:

  • Serotyping was performed on 89 resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates.
  • Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to assess genotypic variability.
  • Isolates resistant to penicillin and ciprofloxacin were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates exhibited significant genetic homogeneity, suggesting clonal spread.
  • Conversely, ciprofloxacin resistance did not correlate with reduced genotypic variability among the isolates.
  • The genetic diversity of ciprofloxacin-resistant strains was substantial.

Conclusions:

  • The spread of penicillin resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae appears to be driven by clonal dissemination.
  • The dissemination of ciprofloxacin resistance in S. pneumoniae in Canada is not currently attributable to clonal spread.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms driving the spread of ciprofloxacin resistance in S. pneumoniae.

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