Macrolide resistance in Belgian Streptococcus pneumoniae

The genetic basis of macrolide resistance was characterized in 59 Streptoco ccus pneumoniae isolates. All isolates were collected in 1995 and 1997 and were from invasive infections. The majority of the isolates (54 of 59 isola tes) were erythromycin and clindamycin resistant (MLSB-phenotype) and carri ed the ermAM gene. Five isolates were erythromycin resistant but clindamyci n susceptible (M-phenotype). Using PCR the mefE gene was detected in these five isolates. Contrary to the situation found in Canada and the USA, mefE- mediated erythromycin resistance in S. pneumoniae is uncommon in Belgium.