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Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes
08:58

Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes

Published on: March 3, 2023

Macrolide resistance determinants in erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in Turkey

Zeynep Gulay1, Ozgen Alpay Ozbek, Meral Bicmen

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey. zeynepgulay62@gmail.com

Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases
|December 4, 2008
PubMed

Insights

The erm(B) gene, causing target site modification, is the primary mechanism of macrolide resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates in Turkey. Clonal spread is not responsible for this resistance pattern.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Macrolide resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae poses a significant public health threat.
  • Understanding resistance mechanisms is crucial for effective treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the predominant molecular mechanisms of macrolide resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from Turkey.
  • To investigate the role of clonal spread in the dissemination of resistant strains.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 151 Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates collected across Turkey.
  • Detection of macrolide resistance genes (erm(B), mef(A)/(E)) using molecular methods.
  • Assessment of clonal dissemination using BOX-polymerase chain reaction.

Main Results:

  • 40 (26.4%) of the isolates exhibited resistance to erythromycin.
  • The erm(B) gene, responsible for target site modification, was the most prevalent mechanism, found in 38 of the resistant isolates.
  • Only two isolates carried the mef(A)/(E) efflux gene.
  • BOX-polymerase chain reaction did not indicate a clonal spread of resistant strains.

Conclusions:

  • The erm(B) gene is the dominant mechanism conferring macrolide resistance in Turkish Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates, consistent with global trends.
  • The observed resistance profile is not driven by clonal dissemination of specific resistant strains.

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