Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 3, 2026

Capsular Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae Using the Quellung Reaction
04:25

Capsular Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae Using the Quellung Reaction

Published on: February 24, 2014

Emergence of further serotypes of multiple drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in Queensland

M Gratten1, G Nimmo, J Carlisle

  • 1Acute Respiratory Infections Research and Reference Unit, Centre for Public Health Sciences, Queensland Health.

Communicable Diseases Intelligence
|May 15, 1997
PubMed

Insights

Multiple drug-resistant *Streptococcus pneumoniae* infections were identified in Queensland children and adults. High resistance rates to common antibiotics like erythromycin and tetracycline were observed, with established clones of types 19F and 14.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • *Streptococcus pneumoniae* is a leading cause of bacterial infections globally.
  • Antimicrobial resistance in pneumococci poses a significant public health threat.
  • Understanding resistance patterns is crucial for effective treatment and prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To document cases of multiple drug-resistant pneumococcal infections in Queensland.
  • To identify the serotypes and antimicrobial resistance profiles of these strains.
  • To investigate the presence of established resistant pneumococcal clones.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective case series analysis of 27 patients with pneumococcal infections.
  • Antimicrobial susceptibility testing including resistance to cotrimoxazole, erythromycin, tetracycline, penicillin, chloramphenicol, and ceftriaxone.
  • Serotyping of *Streptococcus pneumoniae* isolates.
  • Analysis of resistance patterns to identify potential clonal spread.

Main Results:

  • 27 cases of multiple drug-resistant pneumococcal infections were identified between February 1995 and October 1996.
  • High rates of resistance observed: 93% resistant to cotrimoxazole, erythromycin, and tetracycline; 59% to penicillin; 70% to chloramphenicol.
  • Common serotypes included 19F (15 strains) and 14 (6 strains).
  • Resistance to ceftriaxone was noted in 12/16 penicillin-resistant isolates.
  • Established clones of types 19F and 14 pneumococci with distinct resistance patterns were identified in South-East Queensland.

Conclusions:

  • Multiple drug-resistant pneumococcal infections, particularly with serotypes 19F and 14, were prevalent in Queensland during the study period.
  • The emergence of strains resistant to multiple antibiotics, including penicillin and ceftriaxone, highlights the need for ongoing surveillance.
  • Established clones suggest potential for wider dissemination of resistant pneumococci.

More Related Videos

Capsular Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae by Latex Agglutination09:11

Capsular Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae by Latex Agglutination

Published on: September 25, 2014

Constructing Mutants in Serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae strain 519/4306:06

Constructing Mutants in Serotype 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae strain 519/43

Published on: September 11, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
Development of Antibiotic Resistance01:30

Development of Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern that arises when bacteria evolve mechanisms to withstand the effects of antibiotic treatments. This resistance can be intrinsic, acquired through genetic mutations, or transferred between bacteria via horizontal gene transfer. The development of antibiotic resistance poses significant challenges in treating bacterial infections and necessitates ongoing research to develop new therapeutic strategies.Intrinsic resistance occurs when bacterial...
Atypical Pneumonia01:14

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:29

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract that leads to inflammation of the lung parenchyma, often resulting in the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the alveoli and airways. Unlike the watery, low-protein fluid exudate in pulmonary edema, the exudate in this case is a thick fluid rich in immune cells, proteins, and debris produced during infection and inflammation.This impairs gas exchange and can lead to consolidation of lung tissue. The infection may be caused by a...