Ying-Hsiang Wang, Chyi-Liang Chen, Jiun-Nub Hou, Yi-Rou Wang, Ting-Yu Lin, Mei-Hei Wang, Tsung-Han Yang, Chishih Chu1, Cheng-Hsun Chiu2. 1. Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biopharmaceuticals, National Chiayi University, Chiayi, Taiwan. 2. Graduate Institutes of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University; Molecular Infectious Diseases Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou; Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Chang Gung Children's Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance of Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS) has been emerging worldwide. We aimed to examine the correlation of drug-resistant genes with serotypes and with the mutations of the quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) in GBS isolates. METHODS: A total of 323 human GBS isolates were collected from a hospital in southern Taiwan. Laboratory investigation included serotyping by a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, antimicrobial susceptibility testing by a disc diffusion method, and mechanism analysis of the resistance to macrolides and fluoroquinolones by PCR and sequencing methods. RESULTS: Multiplex PCR showed that the most prevalent serotypes were Ib, III, V, and VI, mostly isolated from urine. The ermB gene was highly prevalent in serotypes Ib and V and was associated with clindamycin and macrolide resistance. GBS with a serine-to-leucine mutation at codon 81 in GyrA and with a serine-to-phenylalanine or -tyrosine mutation at codon 79 in ParC had a higher minimum inhibitory concentration of levofloxacin than isolates with only an aspartic acid-to-tyrosine mutation at codon 83 (>32 μg/ml vs. 16 μg/ml) in GyrA. CONCLUSIONS: The most prevalent GBS serotypes were Ib, III, V, and VI. The ermB and mefE genes carried in serotypes Ib and V were highly associated with the resistance to macrolides and clindamycin. Mutations at codon 79 and codon 83 of ParC were the major determining factors for high-level fluoroquinolone resistance.
BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance of Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS) has been emerging worldwide. We aimed to examine the correlation of drug-resistant genes with serotypes and with the mutations of the quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) in GBS isolates. METHODS: A total of 323 human GBS isolates were collected from a hospital in southern Taiwan. Laboratory investigation included serotyping by a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, antimicrobial susceptibility testing by a disc diffusion method, and mechanism analysis of the resistance to macrolides and fluoroquinolones by PCR and sequencing methods. RESULTS: Multiplex PCR showed that the most prevalent serotypes were Ib, III, V, and VI, mostly isolated from urine. The ermB gene was highly prevalent in serotypes Ib and V and was associated with clindamycin and macrolide resistance. GBS with a serine-to-leucine mutation at codon 81 in GyrA and with a serine-to-phenylalanine or -tyrosine mutation at codon 79 in ParC had a higher minimum inhibitory concentration of levofloxacin than isolates with only an aspartic acid-to-tyrosine mutation at codon 83 (>32 μg/ml vs. 16 μg/ml) in GyrA. CONCLUSIONS: The most prevalent GBS serotypes were Ib, III, V, and VI. The ermB and mefE genes carried in serotypes Ib and V were highly associated with the resistance to macrolides and clindamycin. Mutations at codon 79 and codon 83 of ParC were the major determining factors for high-level fluoroquinolone resistance.