Identification of an erm(A) erythromycin resistance methylase gene in Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated in Greece

Authors
Syrogiannopoulos, GA Grivea, IN Tait-Kamradt, A Katopodis, GD Beratis, NG Sutcliffe, J Appelbaum, PC Davies, TA
Citation
Ga. Syrogiannopoulos et al., Identification of an erm(A) erythromycin resistance methylase gene in Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated in Greece, ANTIM AG CH, 45(1), 2001, pp. 342-344
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Microbiology
Journal title
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
ISSN journal
00664804 → ACNP
Volume
45
Issue
1
Year of publication
2001
Pages
342 - 344
Database
ISI
SICI code
0066-4804(200101)45:1<342:IOAEER>2.0.ZU;2-X
Abstract
In a serotype 11A clone of erythromycin-resistant pneumococci isolated from young Greek carriers, we identified the nucleotide sequence of erm(A), a m ethylase gene previously described as erm(TR) in Streptococcus pyogenes. Th e erm(A) pneumococci were resistant to 14- and 15-member macrolides, induci bly resistant to clindamycin, and susceptible to streptogramin B. To our kn owledge, this is the first identification of resistance to erythromycin in S. pneumoniae attributed solely to the carriage of the erm(A) gene.