Penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in Germany: Genetic relationship to clones from other European countries

Abstract

Summary. Penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated in different parts of Germany between 1982 and 1992 were compared with penicillin-resistant isolates, mainly of serogroups 6, 9, 14, 19 and 23, from other European countries. The main clones were recognised by their serotypes, antibiotic resistance patterns and penicillin-binding protein properties, and this typing was confirmed by multi-locus enzyme electrophoresis for a sample of 43 selected isolates. Eleven of the 14 resistant German isolates could be assigned to five genotypes isolated also in other countries. These included representatives of two distinct serotype 23F lineages predominant in Spain and France; a cluster of three serotype 6B isolates identical to clones in Spain, France, Finland and Hungary; and a serotype 9V clone of a type prevalent in Spain and now also in France. Serotype 19A clones of the type found in Hungary were not collected in Germany. The data suggest that two 23F lineages, represented by seven isolates from different locations, have become disseminated in Germany.

Highly Variable Penicillin Resistance Determinants PBP 2x, PBP 2b, and PBP 1a in Isolates of Two Streptococcus pneumoniae Clonal Groups, Poland 23F -16 and Poland 6B -20

“…On the other hand, a high degree of variability for PBP 1a was found in the 6B isolates, and in some of these, including penicillin-intermediate isolates 657 and 2907, the PBP 1a band appeared much farther below the PBP 1b band. Five 23F isolates contained a PBP 3 with a lower electrophoretic mobility, similar to that observed in several other isolates of various serotypes (24,34,39). The affinity of the PBPs for Bocillin FL was tested by using decreasing concentrations of the compound between 1.1 g/ml and 1.1 ng/ml; Fig.…”

Nomenclature of Major Antimicrobial-Resistant Clones of Streptococcus pneumoniae Defined by the Pneumococcal Molecular Epidemiology Network

“…This phenomenon has been particularly highlighted by the worldwide spread of the serotype 23F pneumococcal clone (Spain 23F -1), first identified in Spain in the early 1980s (37) and resistant to penicillin, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline (and sometimes erythromycin). This successful clone has now been found in the United States (26, 37), South Africa (23), the United Kingdom (7), South America (5, 6, 12, 43), several other countries in Europe (29,30,42,46,48,50,58,61), and the Far East (34,47,59). Serotype 19F (7), 14 (4), 19A (9), 9N (40), and 3 (40) and serogroup 6 (54) variants of this clone have also been reported in various regions of the world.…”

Allelic variation in a peptide-inducible two-component system of Streptococcus pneumoniae

“…The following S. pneumoniae strains are members of genetically distinct clones (serotypes): R6 (non-encapsulated) [6]; 669 (19) [7] [8]; Hu11 (19A), F4 (23F), F1 (23F) [9]. Streptococci were grown in a semisynthetic medium con-taining 0.16% glucose supplemented with 0.1% yeast extract at 37³C without aeration [7].…”