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Testing the Role of Multicopy Plasmids in the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance
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Distribution of the antiseptic-resistance gene qacE delta 1 in gram-positive bacteria

H Kazama1, H Hamashima, M Sasatsu

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Showa College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.

FEMS Microbiology Letters
|September 22, 1998
PubMed

Insights

The antiseptic-resistance gene qacE delta 1, typically found in Gram-negative bacteria, was detected in clinical Staphylococcus and Enterococcus strains. This finding indicates the gene

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Antiseptic-resistance genes like qacE and qacE delta 1 are primarily known in Gram-negative bacteria.
  • Understanding the distribution of these genes in other bacterial species is crucial for infection control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and distribution of antiseptic-resistance genes qacE and qacE delta 1 in Gram-positive bacteria.
  • To determine if these genes are found in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus and Enterococcus.

Main Methods:

  • Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed to detect the qacE and qacE delta 1 genes.
  • A total of 151 strains of Staphylococcus and Enterococcus from clinical sources and the Japanese Collection of Microorganisms were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • The qacE delta 1 gene was detected in 36/103 Staphylococcus strains and 9/48 Enterococcus strains.
  • All detected qacE delta 1 genes were from clinical isolates.
  • The qacE gene was not found in any of the tested strains.
  • Nucleotide sequencing confirmed the identity of the qacE delta 1 gene.

Conclusions:

  • The antiseptic-resistance gene qacE delta 1 is present in Gram-positive bacteria, specifically in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus and Enterococcus.
  • This suggests a broader distribution of antiseptic-resistance mechanisms than previously assumed.
  • The findings have implications for understanding and combating antimicrobial resistance in clinical settings.

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