Aminoglycoside resistance in members of the Staphylococcus sciuri group

Tomasz Hauschild1, Dragana Vuković, Ivana Dakić

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, University of Bialystok, 15-950 Bialystok, Poland.

Microbial Drug Resistance (Larchmont, N.Y.)
|July 27, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Aminoglycoside resistance in Staphylococcus sciuri group bacteria is generally low. Specific resistance genes were identified in isolates, particularly those resistant to streptomycin.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Antimicrobial Resistance
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The Staphylococcus sciuri group comprises several species, including S. sciuri, S. lentus, and S. vitulinus.
  • Aminoglycosides are a crucial class of antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections.
  • Understanding aminoglycoside resistance mechanisms in staphylococci is vital for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of aminoglycoside resistance in Staphylococcus sciuri group isolates.
  • To identify the genes responsible for aminoglycoside modification in these bacteria.
  • To correlate specific resistance genes with observed resistance phenotypes.

Main Methods:

  • Phenotypic susceptibility testing against nine aminoglycosides was performed on 304 S. sciuri group isolates.
  • Isolates originated from human, animal, and various environmental sources.
  • Molecular methods were used to detect genes encoding aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes.

Main Results:

  • Overall aminoglycoside resistance prevalence was 12.1%, with single aminoglycoside resistance ranging from 0% to 7.2%.
  • Genes aac(6">-Ie/aph(2"), ant(4">-Ia, and aph(3">-IIIa were detected in 16/19 resistant isolates (non-streptomycin).
  • Streptomycin resistance was associated with str and ant(6">-Ia genes in 22 isolates.

Conclusions:

  • Aminoglycoside resistance in the S. sciuri group is relatively uncommon.
  • Specific aminoglycoside-modifying enzyme genes are present in resistant isolates.
  • These findings contribute to the surveillance of antibiotic resistance in this bacterial group.

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