Transfer of Erythromycin Resistance from Clinically Isolated Lysogenic Strains of Streptococcus pyogenes via Their Endogenous Phage

Abstract

Endogenous bacteriophage from clinically isolated, erythromycin-resistant strains of Streptococcus pyogenes, upon induction by treatment with mitomycin C, were demo. nstrated to cause transduction of antibiotic resistance yielding transductants resistant to relatively high concentrations of erythromycin. Transduction of resistance to erythromycin via endogenous phage may playa significant role in the emergence of streptococciwith multiple resistance in the clinical environment.