Molecular epidemiology of multiresistant Streptococcus pneumoniae with both erm(B)- and mef(A)-mediated macrolide resistance

Severe problem of macrolides resistance to common pathogens in China

With the widespread use of macrolide antibiotics in China, common pathogens causing children's infections, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus (including Group A streptococcus, Group B streptococcus), Staphylococcus aureus, Bordetella pertussis, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, have shown varying degrees of drug resistance. In order to provide such problem and related evidence for rational use of antibiotics in clinic, we reviewed the drug resistance of common bacteria to macrolides in children recent 20 years.

Genotypic and Phenotypic Characterization of Some psms Hypervirulent Clinical Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus in a Tertiary Hospital in Hefei, Anhui

Background

Staphylococcus aureus is a highly successful pathogen that can cause various infectious diseases, from relatively mild skin infections to life-threatening severe systemic diseases. The widespread pathogenicity of S. aureus is mainly due to its ability to produce many virulence factors that help destroy various host cells, causing disease. Our primary goal in this study was to explore the genes of highly virulent strains, to identify genes closely associated with high virulence, and to provide ideas for the treatment of infection by highly virulent clinical strains.

Results

This study collected 221 clinical strains from The First Affiliated Hospital Of The University of Science and Technology of China (USTC); their hemolytic abilities were tested. Eight isolates were selected based on their highly hemolytic ability and tested their hemolytic activity again; their phenotypes and gene sequences were also explored. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) showed six plasmids (pN315, pNE131, pSJH901, pSJH101, SAP106B, and MSSA476), eight antibiotic resistance genes [blaR1, blaI, blaZ, mecA, erm(C), erm(T), tet(38), and fosB-Saur] and seventy-two virulence related genes. Three highly virulent strains, namely X21111206, 21092239, and 21112607, were found according the Galleria mellonella infection model. Therefore, we selected 10 representative virulence genes for qRT-PCR: psmα, psmβ, hlgA, hlgB, hlgC, hla, clfA, clfB, spa, and sak. Among them, the expression levels of psmα and psmβ, the three isolates, were significantly higher than the positive control NCTC8325.

Conclusion

Significant differences appear in the expression of virulence genes in the highly virulent strains, particularly the psmα and psmβ, It may be that the high expression of psm gene is the cause of the high virulence of Staphylococcus aureus. We can reduce the pathogenicity of Staphylococcus aureus by inhibiting the expression of psm gene, which may provide a strong basis for psm as a new target for clinical treatment of S. aureus infection.

The role of mef and ermB drug resistance genetic markers in the selection of fecal microbiota donors

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is prescribed to treat various gastrointestinal pathologies. One of the most important and significant stages of FMT is selection of the donor. In recent years, special attention has been paid to checking the biomaterial for genes marking resistance to various groups of antibiotics. This study aimed to analyze the occurrence of mef and ermB drug resistance genetic markers in population of various age groups, including breastfed infants, and to determine microbiological composition of the flora of distal part of the intestine of potentially healthy volunteering FMT donors. A total of 52 biological samples (46 stool samples and 6 breast milk samples) were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The macrolides resistance gene (mef) was detected in 97.8% of stool samples (different age groups), the gene marking resistance to macrolides, lincosamides, streptogramin (ermB) — in 93.5%. In the isolated "mother-child" group, the mef gene was found in all samples of breast milk and feces. The ermB gene in this group was found in 3 out of 6 breast milk samples and 4 out of 6 infant stool samples. Since the mef and ermB genetic determinants were identified not only among in adults but also in infants, it was suggested that transplant material (feces) containing these genes can be used for FMT. The analysis of microbiological composition of stool samples from 23 healthy volunteers (potential FMT donors) revealed that it rarely (in 8.7% of cases only) corresponds to what is considered to be a normal microbiota of the intestine's distal part.

Whole-genome analysis-based phylogeographic investigation of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 19A sequence type 320 isolates in Japan

After the introduction of the seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, the global spread of multidrug-resistant serotype 19A-sequence type 320 (ST320) strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae became a public health concern. In Japan, the main genotype of serotype 19A was ST3111, and the identification rate of ST320 was low. Although the isolates were sporadically detected in both adults and children, their origin remains unknown. Thus, by combining pneumococcal isolates collected in three nationwide pneumococcal surveillance studies conducted in Japan between 2008 and 2020, we analyzed 56 serotype 19A-ST320 isolates along with 931 global isolates, using whole-genome sequencing to uncover the transmission route of the globally distributed clone in Japan. The clone was frequently detected in Okinawa Prefecture, where the United States returned to Japan in 1972. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the isolates from Japan were genetically related to those from the United States; therefore, the common ancestor may have originated in the United States. In addition, Bayesian analysis suggested that the time to the most recent common ancestor of the isolates from Japan and the U.S. was approximately the 1990s to 2000, suggesting the possibility that the common ancestor could have already spread in the United States before the Taiwan 19F-14 isolate was first identified in a Taiwanese hospital in 1997. The phylogeographical analysis supported the transmission of the clone from the United States to Japan, but the analysis could be influenced by sampling bias. These results suggested the possibility that the serotype 19A-ST320 clone had already spread in the United States before being imported into Japan.

Strategies to Overcome Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Making Use of Non-Essential Target Inhibitors: A Review

Antibiotics have always been considered as one of the most relevant discoveries of the twentieth century. Unfortunately, the dawn of the antibiotic era has sadly corresponded to the rise of the phenomenon of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is a natural process whereby microbes evolve in such a way to withstand the action of drugs. In this context, the identification of new potential antimicrobial targets and/or the identification of new chemical entities as antimicrobial drugs are in great demand. To date, among the many possible approaches used to deal with antibiotic resistance is the use of antibiotic adjuvants that hit bacterial non-essential targets. In this review, the author focuses on the discovery of antibiotic adjuvants and on new tools to study and reduce the prevalence of resistant bacterial infections.

Antimicrobial Resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae: Prevalence, Mechanisms, and Clinical Implications

BACKGROUND

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis, bacteremia, and otitis media. S. pneumoniae has developed increased resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic literature review of prevalence, mechanisms, and clinical implications in S. pneumoniae resistance.

AREAS OF UNCERTAINTY

Since S. pneumoniae resistance to penicillin was first reported with subsequent development of resistance to other classes of drugs, selection of appropriate antibiotic treatment is challenging.

DATA SOURCES

We searched PubMed (English language) for citations to antibiotic resistance in S. pneumoniae published before March 1, 2016.

RESULTS

We present a review of S. pneumoniae resistance to beta-lactams, macrolides, lincosamides, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX). There has been a steady decline in susceptibility of S. pneumoniae to commonly used beta-lactams. Phenotypic expression of penicillin resistance occurs as a result of a genetic structural modification in penicillin-binding proteins. Between 20% and 40% of S. pneumoniae isolates are resistant to macrolides. Macrolide resistance mechanisms include ribosomal target site alteration, alteration in antibiotic transport, and modification of the antibiotic. Approximately 22% of S. pneumoniae isolates are resistant to clindamycin. Similar to macrolide resistance, clindamycin involves a target site alteration. The prevalence of fluoroquinolone resistance is low, although increasing. S. pneumoniae resistance to fluoroquinolones occurs by accumulated mutations within the bacterial genome, increased efflux, or acquisition of plasmid-encoded genes. S. pneumoniae resistance has also increased for the tetracyclines. The primary mechanism is mediated by 2 genes that confer ribosomal protection. The prevalence of TMP-SMX resistance is around 35%. As with fluoroquinolones, resistance to TMP-SMX is secondary to mutations in the bacterial genome.

CONCLUSIONS

Effective treatment of resistant S. pneumoniae is a growing concern. New classes of drugs, newer formulations of older drugs, combination antibiotic therapy, nonantibiotic modalities, better oversight of antibiotic usage, and enhanced preventive measures hold promise.

Genotyping and serotyping of macrolide and multidrug resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from carrier children

AIMS

Streptococcus pneumoniae, an opportunistic pathogen commonly carried asymptomatically in the nasopharynx of children, is associated with increasing rates of treatment failures due to a worldwide increase in drug resistance. We investigated the carriage of S. pneumoniae in children 5 years or younger, the identity of prevalent serotypes, the rates of resistance to macrolides and other antimicrobial agents and the genotypes responsible for macrolide resistance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 157 children under 5 years for cultural isolation of S. pneumoniae. Antibiogram of isolates  was determined using the disk diffusion test, and the minimal inhibitory concentration to macrolides was determined using the E-test. Isolate serotypes and macrolide resistance genes, erm(B) and mef(E), were identified using multiplex polymerase chain reactions.

RESULTS

S. pneumoniae was recovered from 33.8% of children; 41.9% among males and 21.9% among females (P = 0.009). The highest carriage rate occurred among age groups 7-12 months and 49-60 months. Most frequent serotypes were 19F, 6A/B, 11A, 19A, 14 and 15B/C.  Resistance to macrolides was 60.4%. Resistance to oxacillin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and clindamycin was present among 90.6%, 54.7% and 32.1% of isolates, respectively. All isolates were susceptible to chloramphenicol, levofloxacin and vancomycin. Isolates resistant to one or more macrolide drugs were more likely to be multidrug resistant. Resistance to clindamycin or oxacillin coexisted with macrolide resistance. Among the erythromycin-resistant isolates, erm(B), mef(E) and erm(B) and mef(E) genes were present at rates of 43.8%, 37.5% and 6.3%, respectively. Erm(B) and mef(E) were associated with very high level and moderate-to-high level resistance to macrolides, respectively.

CONCLUSION

A significant proportion of children harboured macrolide and multidrug-resistant S. pneumoniae.

Drug Resistance Characteristics and Macrolide-Resistant Mechanisms of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Wenzhou City, China

Background

Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) is a Gram-positive, alpha-hemolytic, facultative anaerobic member of the genus Streptococcus. The erythromycin-resistant methylase (erm) gene and macrolide efflux (mef) gene are the 2 main genes that can mediate SP. Transposon (Tn) also plays an important role in the collection and metastasis of the gene. In the present study we investigated the drug resistance characteristics and the macrolide-resistant mechanisms of SP in Wenzhou City, China.

Material/Methods

Sixty-eight strains of SP were isolated from sputum samples of hospitalized children in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. These strains were analyzed using antimicrobial susceptibility tests to determine their drug resistance to 10 kinds of antibacterials. Macrolide-resistant phenotypes were identified using K-B method. PCR method was used to analyze the erm B gene, mef A gene, and int Tn gene.

Results

Drug resistance rates of 68 strains of SP were 98.5%, 100.0%, 63.2%, 52.9%, 94.1%, 89.7%, 0.0%, 0.0%, 16.2%, and 14.7% for clindamycin, erythromycin, penicillin G, cefotaxime, tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, levofloxacin, vancomycin, chloramphenicol, and amoxicillin, respectively. Total detection rates of the erm B gene, mef A gene, and int Tn gene were 98.5%, 91.2%, and 100.0%, respectively.

Conclusions

SP shows significant multi-drug resistance in Wenzhou City, whereas there is no clinical value of macrolides antibiotics for SP. cMLS_B mediated by erm B gene is the most predominant phenotype among macrolide-resistant SP. The int Tn gene may play an important role in horizontal transfer and clonal dissemination of SP drug resistance genes in Wenzhou City.

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Streptococcus pneumoniae resistant to macrolide in Casablanca, Morocco

In Morocco, the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-13) was introduced in the national immunization program (NIP) in October 2010 and replaced by the PCV-10 in July 2012. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (ERSP) and to analyze the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of these isolates in Casablanca, Morocco from January 2007 to December 2014. Isolates were obtained from the Microbiology Laboratory of Ibn Rochd University Hospital Centre of Casablanca. Serogrouping was done using Pneumotest Kit and serotyping by the Quellung capsular swelling. Antibiotic susceptibility pattern was determined by disk diffusion and Etest methods. A total of 655S. pneumoniae isolates were collected from 2007 to 2014 from pediatric and adult patients. Fifty-five percent of these isolates were from invasive pneumococcal diseases. Of the 655 isolates, 92 (14%) were ERSP. Globally, the proportion of ERSP from 2007 to 2010 (before vaccination) and from 2011 to 2014 (after vaccination) were 11.6% and 17.2% (p=0.04), respectively. Of the 92 ERSP, 89%, 4% and 7% displayed constitutive MLSB (resistance to macrolide, lincosamide and streptogramin B), inducible MLSB, and M phenotype (resistance to macrolide only), respectively. ERSP genotypic analysis showed that 90.2% carried the ermB gene, 6.5% the mefE gene, and 3.3% both the genes (ermB+mefE). The most prevalent ERSP serotypes were 6B, 19F and 23F before vaccination and 19F, 6B, 6A and 23F after vaccination. Erythromycin resistance among S. pneumoniae is relatively high in Casablanca. The contribution of PCVs to the reduction in antibiotic use is encouraging but this should be accompanied by a rational use of antibiotic.

Bacterial Multidrug Efflux Pumps: Much More Than Antibiotic Resistance Determinants

Bacterial multidrug efflux pumps are antibiotic resistance determinants present in all microorganisms. With few exceptions, they are chromosomally encoded and present a conserved organization both at the genetic and at the protein levels. In addition, most, if not all, strains of a given bacterial species present the same chromosomally-encoded efflux pumps. Altogether this indicates that multidrug efflux pumps are ancient elements encoded in bacterial genomes long before the recent use of antibiotics for human and animal therapy. In this regard, it is worth mentioning that efflux pumps can extrude a wide range of substrates that include, besides antibiotics, heavy metals, organic pollutants, plant-produced compounds, quorum sensing signals or bacterial metabolites, among others. In the current review, we present information on the different functions that multidrug efflux pumps may have for the bacterial behaviour in different habitats as well as on their regulation by specific signals. Since, in addition to their function in non-clinical ecosystems, multidrug efflux pumps contribute to intrinsic, acquired, and phenotypic resistance of bacterial pathogens, the review also presents information on the search for inhibitors of multidrug efflux pumps, which are currently under development, in the aim of increasing the susceptibility of bacterial pathogens to antibiotics.

[Genetic determinants of antibiotic resistance in oropharyngeal streptococci in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and in those with asthma]

AIM

To identify oropharyngeal Streptococcus species and to analyze the genetic determinants of antibiotic resistance in patients with asthma and in those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An experimental diagnostic Streptopol+ (Lytech Co. LTD) panel based on a multiplex real-time PCR was applied to investigate the representation of antimicrobial resistance genes (mef and ermB) and the species composition of streptococci isolated from oropharyngeal swab samples from 89 patients with stable COPD and from 51 patients with asthma.

RESULTS

In the stable disease period, the oropharyngeal swabs were found to contain Streptococcus pneumoniae in 7.8% of the patients with asthma and in 6.74% of those with COPD; the common feature of these groups was a tendency towards a severe disease course and recurrent exacerbations requiring antibiotics. S. pyogenus was detected in 42.9% of the oropharyngeal swabs from COPD and asthma patients without exacerbations. The oropharyngeal swabs showed the mef gene in 100% of the patients with asthma and in 100% of those with COPD; the ermB gene was encountered in 91% of the patients with COPD and in 82.4% of those with asthma. The COPD patients displayed a direct correlation between the representation of the ermB gene and sputum production and smoking index. The mef and ermB genes were directly correlated with the frequency of exacerbations in patients with COPD.

CONCLUSION

The identified streptococci are a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genetic determinants - the mef and ermB genes encoding the mechanisms of streptococcal macrolide resistance. The representation of the above genes directly correlates with the frequency of exacerbations and the number of antimicrobial drug uses.

Evidence for soft selective sweeps in the evolution of pneumococcal multidrug resistance and vaccine escape

The multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae Taiwan^19F-14, or PMEN14, clone was first observed with a 19F serotype, which is targeted by the heptavalent polysaccharide conjugate vaccine (PCV7). However, “vaccine escape” PMEN14 isolates with a 19A serotype became an increasingly important cause of disease post-PCV7. Whole genome sequencing was used to characterize the recent evolution of 173 pneumococci of, or related to, PMEN14. This suggested that PMEN14 is a single lineage that originated in the late 1980s in parallel with the acquisition of multiple resistances by close relatives. One of the four detected serotype switches to 19A generated representatives of the sequence type (ST) 320 isolates that have been highly successful post-PCV7. A second produced an ST236 19A genotype with reduced resistance to β-lactams owing to alteration of pbp1a and pbp2x sequences through the same recombination that caused the change in serotype. A third, which generated a mosaic capsule biosynthesis locus, resulted in serotype 19A ST271 isolates. The rapid diversification through homologous recombination seen in the global collection was similarly observed in the absence of vaccination in a set of isolates from the Maela refugee camp in Thailand, a collection that also allowed variation to be observed within carriage through longitudinal sampling. This suggests that some pneumococcal genotypes generate a pool of standing variation that is sufficiently extensive to result in “soft” selective sweeps: The emergence of multiple mutants in parallel upon a change in selection pressure, such as vaccine introduction. The subsequent competition between these mutants makes this phenomenon difficult to detect without deep sampling of individual lineages.

Molecular resistance mechanisms of macrolide-resistant invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from Alaska, 1986 to 2010

The rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant pneumococcal strains has reduced treatment options. The aim of this study was to determine antimicrobial susceptibilities, serotype distributions, and molecular resistance mechanisms among macrolide-resistant invasive pneumococcal isolates in Alaska from 1986 to 2010. We identified cases of invasive pneumococcal disease in Alaska from 1986 to 2010 through statewide population-based laboratory surveillance. All invasive pneumococcal isolates submitted to the Arctic Investigations Program laboratory were confirmed by standard microbiological methods and serotyped by slide agglutination and the Quellung reaction. MICs were determined by the broth microdilution method, and macrolide-resistant genotypes were determined by multiplex PCR. Among 2,923 invasive pneumococcal isolates recovered from 1986 to 2010, 270 (9.2%) were nonsusceptible to erythromycin; 177 (66%) erythromycin-nonsusceptible isolates demonstrated coresistance to penicillin, and 167 (62%) were multidrug resistant. The most frequent serotypes among the macrolide-resistant isolates were serotypes 6B (23.3%), 14 (20.7%), 19A (16.7%), 9V (8.9%), 19F (6.3%), 6A (5.6%), and 23F (4.8%). mef and erm(B) genes were detected in 207 (77%) and 32 (12%) of the isolates, respectively. Nineteen (7%) of the erythromycin-nonsusceptible isolates contained both mef and erm(B) genotypes; 15 were of serotype 19A. There was significant year-to-year variation in the proportion of isolates that were nonsusceptible to erythromycin (P < 0.001). Macrolide resistance among pneumococcal isolates from Alaska is mediated predominantly by mef genes, and this has not changed significantly over time. However, there was a statistically significant increase in the proportion of isolates that possess both erm(B) and mef, primarily due to serotype 19A isolates.

Macrolide resistance determinants among Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from carriers in Central Greece

Background

We sought to characterize the temporal trends in nasopharyngeal carriage of macrolide-resistant pneumococci during a period with increased heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) coverage in Central Greece.

Methods

Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates were recovered from 2649 nasopharyngeal samples obtained from day-care center attendees in Central Greece during 2005–2009. A phenotypic and genotypic analysis of the isolates was performed, including the identification of macrolide resistance genes mef(A), subclasses mef(A) and mef(E), as well as erm(B).

Results

Of the 1105 typeable S. pneumoniae isolates, 265 (24%) were macrolide-resistant; 22% in 2005, 33.3% in 2006, 23.7% in 2007, and 20.5% in 2009 (P=0.398). Among these macrolide-resistant pneumococci, 28.5% possessed erm(B), 24.3% erm(B)+mef(E), 41.8% mef(E), and 5.3% mef(A). A mef gene as the sole resistance determinant was carried by 31% of macrolide-resistant isolates belonging to PCV7 serotypes and 75.8% of the non-PCV7 serotypes. Across the 4 annual surveillances, pneumococci carrying mef(A) gradually disappeared, whereas serotype 19F isolates carrying both erm(B) and mef(E) persisted without significant yearly fluctuations. Among isolates belonging to non-PCV7 serotypes, macrolide-resistance was observed in those of serotypes 6A, 19A, 10A, 15A, 15B/C, 35F, 35A, and 24F. In 2009, ie 5 years after the introduction of PCV7 in our country, 59% of macrolide-resistant pneumococci belonged to non-PCV7 serotypes.

Conclusions

Across the study period, the annual frequency of macrolide-resistant isolates did not change significantly, but in 2009 a marked shift to non-PCV7 serotypes occurred. Overall, more than half of the macrolide-resistant isolates possessed erm(B) either alone or in combination with mef(E). erm(B) dominated among isolates belonging to PCV7 serotypes, but not among those of non-PCV7 serotypes.

Dominance of multidrug resistant CC271 clones in macrolide-resistant streptococcus pneumoniae in Arizona

BACKGROUND

Rates of resistance to macrolide antibiotics in Streptococcus pneumoniae are rising around the world due to the spread of mobile genetic elements harboring mef(E) and erm(B) genes and post-vaccine clonal expansion of strains that carry them.

RESULTS

Characterization of 592 clinical isolates collected in Arizona over a 10 year period shows 23.6% are macrolide resistant. The largest portion of the macrolide-resistant population, 52%, is dual mef(E)/erm(B)-positive. All dual-positive isolates are multidrug-resistant clonal lineages of Taiwan19F-14, mostly multilocus sequence type 320, carrying the recently described transposon Tn2010. The remainder of the macrolide resistant S. pneumoniae collection includes 31% mef(E)-positive, and 9% erm(B)-positive strains.

CONCLUSIONS

The dual-positive, multidrug-resistant S. pneumoniae clones have likely expanded by switching to non-vaccine serotypes after the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine release, and their success limits therapy options. This upsurge could have a considerable clinical impact in Arizona.

Current and future challenges in the development of antimicrobial agents

Micro-organisms exist to survive. Even in the absence of antimicrobial agents, many have determinants of resistance that may be expressed phenotypically, should the need arise. With the advent of the antibiotic age, as more and more drugs were developed to treat serious infections, micro-organisms (particularly bacteria) rapidly developed resistance determinants to prevent their own demise.The most important determinants of resistance have been in the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Among Gram-positive bacteria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP) have taxed researchers and pharmaceutical companies to develop new agents that are effective against these resistant strains. Among the Gram-negative bacteria, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) enzymes, carbapenemases (CREs) and the so-called amp-C enzymes that may be readily transferred between species of enterobacteriaceae and other facultative species have created multi-drug resistant organisms that are difficult to treat. Other resistance determinants have been seen in other clinically important bacterial species such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Clostridium difficile, Haemophilus influenzae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. These issues have now spread to fungal agents of infection.A variety of modalities have been used to stem the tide of resistance. These include the development of niche compounds that target specific resistance determinants. Other approaches have been to find new targets for antimicrobial activity, use of combination agents that are effective against more than one target in the cell, or new delivery mechanism to maximize the concentration of antimicrobial agents at the site of infection without causing toxicity to the host. It is important that such new modalities have been proved effective for clinical therapy. Animal models and non-mammalian systems have been developed to determine if new agents will reach sufficient concentrations at infection sites to predict clinical efficacy without toxicity. It will also be key to consider antimicrobial stewardship as an important component of the continuing battle to prevent the development of antimicrobial resistance.

Antibiotic selection pressure and macrolide resistance in nasopharyngeal Streptococcus pneumoniae: a cluster-randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

It is widely thought that widespread antibiotic use selects for community antibiotic resistance, though this has been difficult to prove in the setting of a community-randomized clinical trial. In this study, we used a randomized clinical trial design to assess whether macrolide resistance was higher in communities treated with mass azithromycin for trachoma, compared to untreated control communities.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

In a cluster-randomized trial for trachoma control in Ethiopia, 12 communities were randomized to receive mass azithromycin treatment of children aged 1-10 years at months 0, 3, 6, and 9. Twelve control communities were randomized to receive no antibiotic treatments until the conclusion of the study. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from randomly selected children in the treated group at baseline and month 12, and in the control group at month 12. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed on Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from the swabs using Etest strips. In the treated group, the mean prevalence of azithromycin resistance among all monitored children increased from 3.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.8%-8.9%) at baseline, to 46.9% (37.5%-57.5%) at month 12 (p = 0.003). In control communities, azithromycin resistance was 9.2% (95% CI 6.7%-13.3%) at month 12, significantly lower than the treated group (p < 0.0001). Penicillin resistance was identified in 0.8% (95% CI 0%-4.2%) of isolates in the control group at 1 year, and in no isolates in the children-treated group at baseline or 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

This cluster-randomized clinical trial demonstrated that compared to untreated control communities, nasopharyngeal pneumococcal resistance to macrolides was significantly higher in communities randomized to intensive azithromycin treatment. Mass azithromycin distributions were given more frequently than currently recommended by the World Health Organization's trachoma program. Azithromycin use in this setting did not select for resistance to penicillins, which remain the drug of choice for pneumococcal infections.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

www.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00322972. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.

Recombination rates of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates with both erm(B) and mef(A) genes

Erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates containing both erm(B) and mef(A) genes have a higher rate of multidrug resistance (MDR). We investigated the relationships between the presence of erythromycin resistance determinants and the recombination rate. We determined the mutation and recombination frequencies of 46 S. pneumoniae isolates, which included 19 with both erm(B) and mef(A), nine with only erm(B), six with only mef(A), and 11 erythromycin-susceptible isolates. Mutation frequency values were estimated as the number of rifampin-resistant colonies as a proportion of total viable count. Genotypes and serotypes of isolates with the hyper-recombination phenotype were determined. Twelve S. pneumoniae isolates were hypermutable and four isolates were determined to have hyper-recombination frequency. Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates with both erm(B) and mef(A) genes did not show a high mutation frequency. In contrast, all isolates with a hyper-recombination phenotype contained both erm(B) and mef(A) genes. In addition, the recombination rate of isolates with both erm(B) and mef(A) genes was statistically higher than the rate of other isolates. The dual presence of erm(B) and mef(A) genes in some pneumococcal isolates may be associated with high recombination frequency. This may be one of the reasons for the frequent emergence of MDR in certain pneumococcal isolates.

Distribution of serotypes, genotypes, and resistance determinants among macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates

Macrolide resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae has emerged as an important clinical problem worldwide over the past decade. The aim of this study was to analyze the phenotypes (serotype and antibiotic susceptibility), genotypes (multilocus sequence type [MLST] and antibiotic resistance gene/transposon profiles) among the 31% (102/328) of invasive isolates from children in New South Wales, Australia, in 2005 that were resistant to erythromycin. Three serotypes--19F (47 isolates [46%]), 14 (27 isolates [26%]), and 6B (12 isolates [12%])--accounted for 86 (84%) of these 102 isolates. Seventy four (73%) isolates had the macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLS(B)) resistance phenotype and carried Tn916 transposons (most commonly Tn6002); of these, 73 (99%) contained the erythromycin ribosomal methylase gene [erm(B)], 34 (47%) also carried the macrolide efflux gene [mef(E)], and 41 (55%) belonged to serotype 19F. Of 28 (27%) isolates with the M phenotype, 22 (79%) carried mef(A), including 16 (57%) belonging to serotype 14, and only six (19%) carried Tn916 transposons. Most (84%) isolates which contained mef also contained one of the msr(A) homologues, mel or msr(D); 38 of 40 (95%) isolates with mef(E) (on mega) carried mel, and of 28 (39%) isolates with mef(A), 10 (39%) carried mel and another 11(39%) carried msr(D), on Tn1207.1. Two predominant macrolide-resistant S. pneumoniae clonal clusters (CCs) were identified in this population. CC-271 contained 44% of isolates, most of which belonged to serotype 19F, had the MLS(B) phenotype, were multidrug resistant, and carried transposons of the Tn916 family; CC-15 contained 23% of isolates, most of which were serotype 14, had the M phenotype, and carried mef(A) on Tn1207.1. Erythromycin resistance among S. pneumoniae isolates in New South Wales is mainly due to the dissemination of multidrug-resistant S. pneumoniae strains or horizontal spread of the Tn916 family of transposons.

Genome-wide dissection of globally emergent multi-drug resistant serotype 19A Streptococcus pneumoniae

BACKGROUND

Emergence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) serotype 19A Streptococcus pneumoniae (SPN) is well-documented but causal factors remain unclear. Canadian SPN isolates (1993-2008, n = 11,083) were serotyped and in vitro susceptibility tested. A subset of MDR 19A were multi-locus sequence typed (MLST) and representative isolates' whole genomes sequenced.

RESULTS

MDR 19A increased in the post-PCV7 era while 19F, 6B, and 23F concurrently declined. MLST of MDR 19A (n = 97) revealed that sequence type (ST) 320 predominated. ST320 was unique amongst MDR 19A in that its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for penicillin, amoxicillin, ceftriaxone, and erythromycin were higher than for other ST present amongst post-PCV7 MDR 19A. DNA sequencing revealed that alleles at key drug resistance loci pbp2a, pbp2x, pbp2b, ermB, mefA/E, and tetM were conserved between pre-PCV7 ST 320 19F and post-PCV7 ST 320 19A most likely due to a capsule switch recombination event. A genome wide comparison of MDR 19A ST320 with MDR 19F ST320 identified 822 unique SNPs in 19A, 61 of which were present in antimicrobial resistance genes and 100 in virulence factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest a complex genetic picture where high-level drug resistance, vaccine selection pressure, and SPN mutational events have created a "perfect storm" for the emergence of MDR 19A.

Efflux-mediated drug resistance in bacteria: an update

Drug efflux pumps play a key role in drug resistance and also serve other functions in bacteria. There has been a growing list of multidrug and drug-specific efflux pumps characterized from bacteria of human, animal, plant and environmental origins. These pumps are mostly encoded on the chromosome, although they can also be plasmid-encoded. A previous article in this journal provided a comprehensive review regarding efflux-mediated drug resistance in bacteria. In the past 5 years, significant progress has been achieved in further understanding of drug resistance-related efflux transporters and this review focuses on the latest studies in this field since 2003. This has been demonstrated in multiple aspects that include but are not limited to: further molecular and biochemical characterization of the known drug efflux pumps and identification of novel drug efflux pumps; structural elucidation of the transport mechanisms of drug transporters; regulatory mechanisms of drug efflux pumps; determining the role of the drug efflux pumps in other functions such as stress responses, virulence and cell communication; and development of efflux pump inhibitors. Overall, the multifaceted implications of drug efflux transporters warrant novel strategies to combat multidrug resistance in bacteria.

Rapid identification of penicillin and macrolide resistance genes and simultaneous quantification of Streptococcus pneumoniae in purulent sputum samples by use of a novel real-time multiplex PCR assay

We evaluated a real-time quantitative PCR combined with a multiplex PCR assay for the quantification of Streptococcus pneumoniae and the simultaneous detection of drug-resistant genes by gel-based PCR, using purulent sputum samples. This assay correctly quantified S. pneumoniae and identified their penicillin and erythromycin susceptibilities directly from samples within 3 h.

Distribution and antibacterial susceptibility of macrolide resistance genotypes in Streptococcus pneumoniae: PROTEKT Year 5 (2003-2004)

The distribution and antibacterial susceptibility of macrolide resistance genotypes among 7083 Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates collected worldwide during 2003-2004 from patients with community-acquired respiratory tract infections, including patients within 48h of admission to hospital, were analysed. The overall rate of erythromycin resistance was 37.2% (intercountry range <10% to >50%). The most common resistance mechanism globally was erm(B) (55.0% of erythromycin-resistant S. pneumoniae (ERSP)), followed by mef(A) (30.6%) and erm(B)+mef(A) (12.0%). Genotype distribution varied by age group (P<0.0001); erm(B)+mef(A) was more prevalent (21.8% of isolates) among patients 0-2 years of age than among other age groups (P<0.001). The prevalence of tetracycline resistance among mef(A) isolates varied between different countries. Of the erm(B)+mef(A) strains, 43.5% were resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. Most ERSP isolates were susceptible to levofloxacin (98.3%) and telithromycin (99.4%).

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of macrolide resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in Tunisia

One hundred of non duplicate Streptococcus pneumoniae resistant to erythromycin collected from three teaching hospitals in Tunisia from January 1998 to December 2004 were investigated to evaluate determine their resistance level to different macrolides and the mechanisms involved. Most erythromycin resistant S. pneumoniae were isolated from respiratory tract (34%). Eighty-three percent showed constitutive MLS(B) phenotype with high MICs of macrolides and lincosamides (MIC90 >256 microg/ml), 12% M phenotype with moderately increased MICs of macrolides (MIC90: 12 microg/ml) and low MICs of lincosamides (MIC90=0.75 microg/ml) and 5% inducible MLS(B) with high MICs of macrolides (MIC90 >256 microg/ml) and moderately increased MICs of lincosamides (MIC90=8 microg/ml). All strains were susceptible to quinupristun-dafopristin association and linezolid (MIC90=1 microg/ml). Strains belonging to MLS(B) phenotype were PCR positive for the erm B gene (88%). Twelve percent categorized as M phenotype carried the mef A gene. The rates of associated resistance were 68% to penicillin G, 53% to tetracyclines, 61% to cotrimoxazole, 21% to chloramphenicol and 13% to ciprofloxacin. MLS(B) constitutive phenotype conferring cross resistance to macrolides, lincosamides and streptogramins B with high level of resistance was the most prevalent. Thus, quinupristin-dalfopristin association and linezolid remain the most active molecules.

Activities of clindamycin, daptomycin, doxycycline, linezolid, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and vancomycin against community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with inducible clindamycin resistance in murine thigh infection and in vitro pharmacodynamic models

Controversy exists about the most effective treatment options for community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) and about the ability of these strains to develop inducible resistance to clindamycin during therapy. Using both in vitro pharmacodynamic and murine thigh infection models, we evaluated and compared several antimicrobial compounds against CA-MRSA. Strains with inducible macrolide lincosamide-streptogramin type B (iMLS(B)) resistance and strains in which resistance was noninducible were evaluated. Two levels of inocula (10(5) and 10(7)) were evaluated for clindamycin activity in the in vivo model. In both models, the antimicrobial evaluation was performed in triplicate, and bacterial quantification occurred over 72 h, with drug doses that were designed to simulate the free drug area-under-the-concentration-time curve values (fAUCs) obtained from human samples. When the activity of clindamycin against the iMLS(B) strains was evaluated, constitutive resistance was noted at 24 h (MIC of >256), and failure was noted at an inoculum of > or =10(6) in the in vivo models. However, at a low inoculum (10(5)) in the murine thigh-infection model, clindamycin demonstrated modest activity, reducing the CFU/thigh count for clindamycin resistance-inducible strains at 72 h (0.45 to 1.3 logs). Overall, administration of daptomycin followed by vancomycin demonstrated the most significant kill against all strains in both models. Against the clindamycin noninducible strain, clindamycin and doxycycline demonstrated significant kill. Doxycycline, linezolid, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazide (not run in the murine model) demonstrated bacteriostatic activity against clindamycin resistance-inducible isolates. This study demonstrates that clindamycin's activity against the iMLS(B) strains tested is partially impacted by inoculum size. At present, there are several alternatives that appear promising for treating clindamycin resistance-inducible strains of CA-MRSA.

Mechanisms of macrolide resistance among Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from Russia

Among 76 macrolide-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates collected between 2003 and 2005 from Central Russia, the resistance mechanisms detected in the isolates included erm(B) alone (50%), mef alone [mef(E), mef(I), or a different mef subclass; 19.7%], or both erm(B) and mef(E) (30.3%). Isolates with dual resistance genes [erm(B) and mef(E)] belonged to clonal complex CC81 or CC271.

Trends in antibacterial resistance among Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated in the USA: update from PROTEKT US Years 1-4

Background

The increasing prevalence of resistance to established antibiotics among key bacterial respiratory tract pathogens, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, is a major healthcare problem in the USA. The PROTEKT US study is a longitudinal surveillance study designed to monitor the susceptibility of key respiratory tract pathogens in the USA to a range of commonly used antimicrobials. Here, we assess the geographic and temporal trends in antibacterial resistance of S. pneumoniae isolates from patients with community-acquired respiratory tract infections collected between Year 1 (2000–2001) and Year 4 (2003–2004) of PROTEKT US.

Methods

Antibacterial minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined centrally using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) broth microdilution method; susceptibility was defined according to CLSI interpretive criteria. Macrolide resistance genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction.

Results

A total of 39,495 S. pneumoniae isolates were collected during 2000–2004. The percentage of isolates resistant to erythromycin, penicillin, levofloxacin, and telithromycin were 29.3%, 21.2%, 0.9%, and 0.02%, respectively, over the 4 years, with marked regional variability. The proportion of isolates exhibiting multidrug resistance (includes isolates known as penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae and isolates resistant to ≥ 2 of the following antibiotics: penicillin; second-generation cephalosporins, e.g. cefuroxime; macrolides; tetracyclines; and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) remained stable at ~30% over the study period. Overall mef(A) was the most common macrolide resistance mechanism. The proportion of mef(A) isolates decreased from 68.8% to 62.3% between Year 1 and Year 4, while the percentage of isolates carrying both erm(B) and mef(A) increased from 9.7% to 18.4%. Over 99% of the erm(B)+mef(A)-positive isolates collected over Years 1–4 exhibited multidrug resistance. Higher than previously reported levels of macrolide resistance were found for mef(A)-positive isolates.

Conclusion

Over the first 4 years of PROTEKT US, penicillin and erythromycin resistance among pneumococcal isolates has remained high. Although macrolide resistance rates have stabilized, the prevalence of clonal isolates, with a combined erm(B) and mef(A) genotype together with high-level macrolide and multidrug resistance, is increasing, and their spread may have serious health implications. Telithromycin and levofloxacin both showed potent in vitro activity against S. pneumoniae isolates irrespective of macrolide resistance genotype.

New genetic element carrying the erythromycin resistance determinant erm(TR) in Streptococcus pneumoniae

erm(A) subclass erm(TR), a common macrolide resistance determinant in Streptococcus pyogenes but quite rare in Streptococcus pneumoniae, was found in a clinical S. pneumoniae isolate (AP200) from Italy. In this isolate, erm(TR) was found included in a genetic element approximately 56 kb in size that did not appear to be conjugative but could be transferred by transformation. An erm(TR)-containing DNA fragment of approximately 10 kb was sequenced and 12 open reading frames (ORFs) were identified. Upstream of erm(TR), a regulatory protein of the TetR family and the two components of an efflux pump of the ABC type were found. Downstream of erm(TR), there were ORFs homologous to a spectinomycin phosphotransferase, transposases, and a relaxase. Since the genomic sequence of S. pyogenes MGAS10750 carrying erm(TR) became available, comparison between the erm(TR)-containing genetic elements in AP200 and in MGAS10750 was performed. The region flanking erm(TR) in MGAS10750 showed identity with AP200 for 10 ORFs out of 12. PCR mapping using primers designed on the sequence of MGAS10750 confirmed that AP200 carries a genetic element similar to that of MGAS10750. In AP200 the genetic element was inserted inside an ORF homologous to spr0790 of S. pneumoniae R6, coding for a type I restriction modification system. Homologies between the insertion sites in AP200 and MGAS10750 consisted of eight conserved nucleotides, of which three were duplicated, likely representing target site duplication. The structure of the erm(TR)-carrying genetic element shows characteristics of a transposon/prophage remnant chimera. In AP200 this genetic element was designated Tn1806.

Increasing penicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole resistance in nasopharyngeal Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from Guatemalan children, 2001--2006

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to determine nasopharyngeal colonization rates and antibiotic resistance patterns of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from Guatemalan children, and to determine risk factors for colonization and antibiotic nonsusceptibility.

METHODS

Isolates were obtained from children aged 5 to 60 months attending public and private outpatient clinics and daycare centers during August 2001--June 2002 and outpatient clinics during November 2005--February 2006 in Guatemala City. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of penicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMS), cefotaxime, and erythromycin were determined using the E-test.

RESULTS

The overall nasopharyngeal colonization rate for S. pneumoniae was 59.1%. From 2001/2 to 2005/6 TMS nonsusceptibility increased from 42.4% to 60.8% (p<0.05) in public clinics and from 51.4% to 84.0% (p=0.009) in private clinics, and penicillin nonsusceptibility increased from 1.5% to 33.3% in public clinics (p<0.001). Reported antibiotic use was not strictly associated with nonsusceptibility to that same antibiotic. Resistance to three or four antibiotics increased in public clinics from 2001/2 (0%) to 2005/6 (10.7%; p<0.001). Risk factors for nasopharyngeal colonization with penicillin- or TMS-nonsusceptible S. pneumoniae were low family income, daycare center attendance, and recent penicillin use.

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing antibiotic nonsusceptibility rates in nasopharyngeal S. pneumoniae isolates from Guatemalan children reflect worldwide trends. Policies encouraging more judicious use of TMS should be considered.

The macrolide resistance genes erm(B) and mef(E) are carried by Tn2010 in dual-gene Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates belonging to clonal complex CC271

The genetic elements carrying macrolide resistance genes in Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates belonging to CC271 were investigated. The international clone Taiwan(19F)-14 was found to carry Tn2009, a Tn916-like transposon containing tet(M) and mef(E). The dual erm(B) mef(E) isolates carried Tn2010, which is similar to Tn2009 with the addition of a putative new transposon, the erm(B) genetic element.

A Novel indole compound that inhibits Pseudomonas aeruginosa growth by targeting MreB is a substrate for MexAB-OprM

Drug efflux systems contribute to the intrinsic resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to many antibiotics and biocides and hamper research focused on the discovery and development of new antimicrobial agents targeted against this important opportunistic pathogen. Using a P. aeruginosa PAO1 derivative bearing deletions of opmH, encoding an outer membrane channel for efflux substrates, and four efflux pumps belonging to the resistance nodulation/cell division class including mexAB-oprM, we identified a small-molecule indole-class compound (CBR-4830) that is inhibitory to growth of this efflux-compromised strain. Genetic studies established MexAB-OprM as the principal pump for CBR-4830 and revealed MreB, a prokaryotic actin homolog, as the proximal cellular target of CBR-4830. Additional studies establish MreB as an essential protein in P. aeruginosa, and efflux-compromised strains treated with CBR-4830 transition to coccoid shape, consistent with MreB inhibition or depletion. Resistance genetics further suggest that CBR-4830 interacts with the putative ATP-binding pocket in MreB and demonstrate significant cross-resistance with A22, a structurally unrelated compound that has been shown to promote rapid dispersion of MreB filaments in vivo. Interestingly, however, ATP-dependent polymerization of purified recombinant P. aeruginosa MreB is blocked in vitro in a dose-dependent manner by CBR-4830 but not by A22. Neither compound exhibits significant inhibitory activity against mutant forms of MreB protein that bear mutations identified in CBR-4830-resistant strains. Finally, employing the strains and reagents prepared and characterized during the course of these studies, we have begun to investigate the ability of analogues of CBR-4830 to inhibit the growth of both efflux-proficient and efflux-compromised P. aeruginosa through specific inhibition of MreB function.

Increased antimicrobial resistance among nonvaccine serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the pediatric population after the introduction of 7-valent pneumococcal vaccine in the United States

BACKGROUND

The 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was introduced in the United States in February 2000. The PROTEKT US study evaluated serotype distribution, PCV7 coverage and antimicrobial susceptibility among Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates collected from children aged 0 to 14 years in 2000 through 2001 (year 1; n = 2033), 2002 through 2003 (year 3; n = 1740) and 2003 through 2004 (year 4; n = 1591).

METHODS

Serotyping was performed by Neufeld Quellung reaction. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined centrally according to Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute methodology and interpretive breakpoints.

RESULTS

The proportion of isolates covered by PCV7 (vaccine serotypes) decreased from 65.5% (year 1) to 34.7% (year 3) and to 27.0% (year 4) (P < 0.0001) with similar changes seen at regional and state levels. The most common serotypes in year 4 were nonvaccine serotypes (NVS) 19A (19.0% of all isolates), 6A (7.8%), 3 (7.6%), 15 (6.3%) and 35B (5.8%) and vaccine serotype 19F (12.7%). NVS 19A increased relative to vaccine serotype 19F among isolates expressing the erm(B) + mef(A) macrolide-resistant genotype (P < 0.0001) between year 1 (7.8% [19A] versus 86.7% [19F]) and year 4 (45.5% [19A] versus 51.7% [19F]). Antimicrobial resistance rates (year 1 versus year 4) among NVS from nonblood (respiratory tract) sources increased for penicillin (resistant: 12.7-16.1% [P = 0.0857]; intermediate susceptibility: 20.1-31.5% [P < 0.0001]), erythromycin (21.2-31.6% [P < 0.0001]), amoxicillin-clavulanate (1.4-5.8% [P < 0.0001]) and multidrug resistance (resistance to > or =2 antimicrobial classes) (24.6-31.6% [P = 0.0034]).

CONCLUSIONS

The proportion of S. pneumoniae isolates from U.S. pediatric patients covered by PCV7 decreased substantially in the 4 years after vaccine introduction. However, resistance to commonly used antimicrobials, including beta-lactams and macrolides, as well as multidrug-resistant strains increased significantly among respiratory tract isolates of NVS.

Recent findings from multinational resistance surveys: are we ‘PROTEKTed’ from resistance?

Continual monitoring of antimicrobial resistance rates is essential. Several large surveillance programmes have been established, including the international, longitudinal, multi-centre study PROTEKT (Prospective Resistant Organism Tracking and Epidemiology for the Ketolide Telithromycin). Initiated in 1999, PROTEKT monitors the antibacterial susceptibility of common respiratory tract pathogens. This article reviews the findings from PROTEKT to date and anticipates future trends in antimicrobial resistance. Data from PROTEKT indicate that resistance patterns for Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae are changing, with an increasing prevalence of multi-drug resistant genotypes. Resistance to the ketolide telithromycin is very rare, with rates of S. pneumoniae susceptibility remaining >99%. The in vitro activity of telithromycin remains at a high level irrespective of pathogen genotype or phenotype.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Staphylococcal Chromosomal CassettemecType in Community- and Hospital-Associated Methicillin-ResistantStaphylococcus aureus

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To differentiate the characteristics of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and hospital-associated MRSA isolates on the basis of their susceptibility profiles, induction of clindamycin resistance, and staphylococcal chromosomal cassette (SCC) mec types.

DESIGN

In vitro molecular and susceptibility study of isolates obtained from December 2004-January 2006 as part of a large, ongoing clinical study.

SETTING

Level I trauma center in Detroit, Michigan. BACTERIAL STRAINS: Three hundred eight MRSA isolates randomly collected from patients; 130 were classified as community-associated, and 178 were classified hospital-associated by using definitions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

INTERVENTION

Minimum inhibitory concentrations were tested on the basis of current guidelines from the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

All tested MRSA isolates were susceptible to daptomycin, linezolid, and vancomycin. In addition, community-associated MRSA isolates were significantly (all p < or = 0.05) more susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (99%), clindamycin (96%), and a fluoroquinolone (76%) than hospital-associated MRSA isolates. Inducible resistance to clindamycin was demonstrated in 8.4% of community-associated MRSA isolates versus 50% of hospital-associated MRSA isolates (p < or = 0.001). Of interest, 35% of the MRSA isolates collected from hospitalized patients (> 48 hrs after admission and according to the CDC definition) possessed SCCmec type IV.

CONCLUSION

Overall, inducible clindamycin resistance occurred at significantly higher rates in the hospital-associated MRSA isolates, susceptibility differed significantly between community- and hospital-associated MRSA, and most of the hospital isolates contained SCCmec type IV.

Characterisation of macrolide-non-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae colonising children attending day-care centres in Athens, Greece during 2000 and 2003

Nasopharyngeal Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates colonising young children are representative of isolates causing clinical disease. This study determined the frequency of macrolide-non-susceptible pneumococci, as well as their phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, among pneumococci collected during two cross-sectional surveillance studies of the nasopharynx of 2847 children attending day-care centres in the Athens metropolitan area during 2000 and 2003. In total, 227 macrolide-non-susceptible pneumococcal isolates were studied. Increases in macrolide non-susceptibility, from 23% to 30.3% (p <0.05), and in macrolide and penicillin co-resistance, from 3.4% to 48.6% (p <0.001), were identified during the study period. The M resistance phenotype, associated with the presence of the mef(A)/(E) gene, predominated in both surveys, and isolates carrying both mef(A)/(E) and erm(AM) were identified, for the first time in Greece, among the isolates from the 2003 survey. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis of the isolates from the 2000 survey indicated the spread of a macrolide- and penicillin-resistant clone among day-care centres. The serogroups identified most commonly in the study were 19F, 6A, 6B, 14 and 23F, suggesting that the theoretical protection of the seven-valent conjugate vaccine against macrolide-non-susceptible isolates was c. 85% during both study periods.

Antimicrobial susceptibilities and distribution of resistance genes for β-lactams and macrolides in Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated between 2002 and 2004 in Tokyo

Antimicrobial susceptibilities of 205 Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated between 2002 and 2004 in Japan were examined and the distribution of genes for resistance to penicillins and macrolides were investigated by polymerase chain reaction. The molecular epidemiology of 92 randomly selected isolates was also examined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The numbers of S. pneumoniae isolates resistant to benzylpenicillin, clarithromycin and tetracycline were, respectively, 39 (19%), 111 (54%) and 155 (76%), and the numbers increased annually. All isolates were susceptible to amoxicillin, fluoroquinolones, vancomycin and linezolid. Analysis of mutations in the genes for penicillin-binding protein showed that 92% of isolates had mutations in pbp1a, pbp2b and/or pbp2x. Susceptibility to benzylpenicillin decreased with increasing number of mutated pbp genes. The macrolide resistance genes ermB and mefA were found in 99 (48%) and 76 (37%) isolates, respectively. The presence of ermB was associated with high-level resistance to macrolides, and the percentage of isolates with ermB increased annually. The presence of mefA also increased with increasing number of mutated pbp genes. Although the 92 isolates belonged to 74 PFGE types, three groups with an 80% similarity in their PFGE patterns were found at high frequency. Two of the three groups contained no isolates susceptible to penicillin and/or tetracycline, and their percentages increased annually. Our results suggest that the number of S. pneumoniae isolates with reduced susceptibility due to accumulation of resistance genes has been increasing.

Prevalence and antibacterial susceptibility of mef(A)-positive macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae over 4 years (2000 to 2004) of the PROTEKT US Study

In the United States, approximately 30% of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates are macrolide (erythromycin [ERY]) resistant (ERSP), most commonly due to expression of the mef(A) gene previously associated with lower-level ERY resistance (ERYr; MIC=1 to 4 microg/ml). The data from the PROTEKT US surveillance study were analyzed to evaluate the prevalence and antibacterial susceptibility of mef(A)-positive ERSP. In all, 26,634 isolates of S. pneumoniae were collected in the United States between 2000 and 2004 from centers common to all years. ERYr was stable at approximately 29% over the 4 years, but the proportion of ERSP isolates positive for mef(A) alone decreased (year 1 [2000 to 2001], 69.0%; year 4 [2003 to 2004], 60.7%), with the sharpest declines seen in isolates from patients from 0 to 2 years of age. Conversely, the proportion isolates positive for both erm(B) and mef(A) increased over the duration of the present study (year 1, 9.3%; year 4, 19.1%), a change that was again most marked in patients aged <or=2 years. The majority of ERSP isolates expressing mef(A) alone exhibited higher than previously reported levels of ERYr (MIC90=16 microg/ml). However, the ketolide antibacterial telithromycin consistently demonstrated in vitro activity against these isolates over the 4 years of the study (MIC90=0.5 to 1 microg/ml).

Macrolide and ketolide resistance with Streptococcus pneumoniae

Antimicrobial agents in the macrolide family have long been considered drugs of potential utility in the management of infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae. However, with the emergence of macrolide resistance, the clinical value of macrolides in pneumococcal infections is threatened. In part, as a consequence of the development of macrolide resistance, recently the first agent in the ketolide antimicrobial class, telithromycin, was developed and introduced into clinical practice. The ketolides are macrolide antimicrobials whose chemistry has been modified so as avoid the effects of the most common mechanisms of macrolide resistance with S pneumoniae. This discussion reviews the current state of resistance to macrolides and ketolides with S pneumoniae in North America.

Emergence of multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae: report from the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program (1999–2003)

Emerging resistance among Streptococcus pneumoniae to penicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracyclines, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole continues to compromise orally administered therapy for community-acquired respiratory tract infections. Concern also exists that multidrug-resistant (MDR) S. pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae strains could develop fluoroquinolone resistance (FQR). S. pneumoniae (2379 strains), H. influenzae (2456), and Moraxella catarrhalis (901) studied as part of the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program in 2003 were tested by reference MIC methods against 16 antimicrobials. In addition, 592 strains of S. pneumoniae from 1999 to 2003 were assessed for trends in MDR occurrences. H. influenzae beta-lactamase production varied from 11.6% in Latin America to 27.3% in North America, whereas beta-lactamase rates for M. catarrhalis remained stable at 94.7-95.6%. Penicillin resistance (MIC, > or =2 microg/mL) in S. pneumoniae was 14.7%, 12.7%, and 15.9% for Europe, Latin America, and North America, respectively. MDR S. pneumoniae increased from 5.7% (1999) to 6.3% (2003) in North America, but no FQR increase to new agents (gatifloxacin) was detected in the 2001-2003 MDR S. pneumoniae isolates. Five epidemic clusters of FQR S. pneumoniae (levofloxacin MIC, >32 microg/mL) strains have been reported by our group previously in Italian medical centers in 2002-2004. Unlike the strains described here, those strains were susceptible to beta-lactams, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, chloramphenicol, and rifampin, and resistant to macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B agents and tetracycline (not meeting MDR criteria). Excluding these clones from Italy, overall FQR rates did not significantly vary from the prior years' experience across the regions (North America > Europe > Latin America). In conclusion, MDR and FQR S. pneumoniae continue to occur across all geographic regions monitored with some detectable clonality. The monitoring of emerging resistance as part of surveillance programs is useful in differentiating sporadic from clonal resistances, an important distinction when assessing prospective public health interventions or empiric therapy recommendations.

Application of molecular techniques to the study of hospital infection

Nosocomial infections are an important source of morbidity and mortality in hospital settings, afflicting an estimated 2 million patients in United States each year. This number represents up to 5% of hospitalized patients and results in an estimated 88,000 deaths and 4.5 billion dollars in excess health care costs. Increasingly, hospital-acquired infections with multidrug-resistant pathogens represent a major problem in patients. Understanding pathogen relatedness is essential for determining the epidemiology of nosocomial infections and aiding in the design of rational pathogen control methods. The role of pathogen typing is to determine whether epidemiologically related isolates are also genetically related. To determine molecular relatedness of isolates for epidemiologic investigation, new technologies based on DNA, or molecular analysis, are methods of choice. These DNA-based molecular methodologies include pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), PCR-based typing methods, and multilocus sequence analysis. Establishing clonality of pathogens can aid in the identification of the source (environmental or personnel) of organisms, distinguish infectious from noninfectious strains, and distinguish relapse from reinfection. The integration of molecular typing with conventional hospital epidemiologic surveillance has been proven to be cost-effective due to the associated reduction in the number of nosocomial infections. Cost-effectiveness is maximized through the collaboration of the laboratory, through epidemiologic typing, and the infection control department during epidemiologic investigations.

Efflux systems in bacterial pathogens: An opportunity for therapeutic intervention? An industry view

The efflux systems of bacteria protect cells from antibiotics and biocides by actively transporting compounds out of the cytoplasm and/or periplasm and thereby limit their steady-state accumulation at their site(s) of action. The impact of efflux systems on the efficacy of antibiotics used in human medicine and animal husbandry is becoming increasingly apparent from the characterization of drug-resistant strains with altered drug efflux properties. In most instances, efflux-mediated antibiotic resistance arises from mutational events that result in their elevated expression and, in the case of efflux pumps with broad substrate specificity, can confer multi-drug resistance (MDR) to structurally unrelated antibiotics. Knowledge of the role of efflux systems in conferring antibiotic resistance has now been successfully exploited in the pharmaceutical industry and contributed, in part, to the development of new members of the macrolide and tetracycline classes of antibiotics that circumvent the efflux-based resistance mechanisms that have limited the clinical utility of their progenitors. The therapeutic utility of compounds that inhibit bacterial drug efflux pumps and therein potentiate the activity of a co-administered antibiotic agent remains to be validated in the clinical setting, but the approach holds promise for the future in improving the efficacy and/or extending the clinical utility of existing antibiotics. This review discusses the potential of further exploiting the knowledge of efflux-mediated antibiotic resistance in bacteria toward the discovery and development of new chemotherapeutic agents.

Prevalence and molecular genetics of macrolide resistance among Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates collected in Finland in 2002

The prevalence and mechanisms of macrolide resistance among 1,007 clinical pneumococcal isolates collected in Finland were investigated. Of these, 217 (21.5%) were resistant to erythromycin and 11% to clindamycin. Among the erythromycin-resistant isolates, mef(E) was present in 95 isolates (44%), mef(A) was present in 12 isolates (6%), and erm(B) was present in 90 isolates (41%). A double mechanism, mef(E) and erm(B), was detected in five isolates (2%). Ribosomal mutation was detected in 14 (6%) macrolide-resistant isolates in which no other determinant was found. Based on the telithromycin MICs, two groups of isolates were formed: 83.3% of the isolates belonged to a major group for which the telithromycin MIC range was < or =0.008 to 0.063 microg/ml, and 16.7% belonged to a minor group for which the telithromycin MIC range was 0.125 to 8 microg/ml. All except three isolates in the minor population carried a macrolide resistance gene.