We screened 183 different clinical anaerobic and aerobic bacteria isolated
from humans and other animals for the presence of the ermF gene using a pol
ymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The ermF gene was detected in 107 (58%)
clinical isolates, including 42 (61%) of 69 Gram-positive bacteria and 65
(57%) of 114 Gram-negative bacteria. Twenty-five ATCC isolates were also te
sted; 20 (80%) carried the ermF gene. The gene products from the ermF PCR f
rom four isolates were sequenced and showed 95-99% nucleotide homology with
the ermF gene and 98-99% amino acid homology with the gene product. Eleven
(58%) of the 19 Gram-negative donors tested were able to transfer the ermF
gene. All nine (100%) of the Gram-positive donors tested transferred the e
rmF gene, using either Enterococcus faecalis or Haemophilus influenzae as t
he recipients.