Emergence of ArmA and RmtB aminoglycoside resistance 16S rRNA methylases in Belgium
Open Access
- 15 January 2007
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
- Vol. 59 (3), 459-464
- https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkl527
Abstract
16S rRNA methylase-mediated high-level resistance to aminoglycosides has been reported recently in clinical isolates of Gram-negative bacilli only from a limited number of countries. This study was conducted to investigate the occurrence of this type of resistance in clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae from two Belgian hospitals and the characteristics of the strains. We screened for high-level gentamicin, tobramycin and amikacin resistance in clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae consecutively collected between 2000 and 2005 at two laboratories by PCR for the armA, rmtA and rmtB 16S rRNA methylase genes. The β-lactamase presence in the strains was also determined by phenotypic and genotypic methods. Overall armA genes were detected in 18 Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter cloacae and Citrobacter amalonaticus whereas rmtB was detected in a single E. coli isolate. The rmtA gene was not found. All 16S rRNA methylase-bearing strains produced extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), predominantly type CTX-M-3, as well as various types of β-lactamases. In the majority of the strains, the armA gene was carried by conjugative plasmids of the IncL/M incompatibility group whereas rmtB was borne by an IncFI plasmid. This is the first report of the emergence of 16S rRNA methylases in Enterobacteriaceae in Belgium. The rapid spread of multidrug-resistant isolates producing both ESBLs and 16S rRNA methylases raises clinical concern and may become a major therapeutic threat in the future.Keywords
This publication has 24 references indexed in Scilit:
- Aminoglycoside Resistance by ArmA-mediated Ribosomal 16S Methylation in Human Bacterial PathogensJournal of Molecular Biology, 2006
- Molecular understanding of aminoglycoside action and resistanceApplied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2006
- Novel Plasmid-Mediated 16S rRNA Methylase, RmtC, Found in a Proteus mirabilis Isolate Demonstrating Extraordinary High-Level Resistance against Various AminoglycosidesAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2006
- Worldwide Disseminated armA Aminoglycoside Resistance Methylase Gene Is Borne by Composite Transposon Tn 1548Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2005
- Molecular Insights into Aminoglycoside Action and ResistanceChemical Reviews, 2004
- Plasmid-mediated 16S rRNA methylases conferring high-level aminoglycoside resistance in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from two Taiwanese hospitalsJournal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 2004
- Plasmid-Mediated 16S rRNA Methylase in Serratia marcescens Conferring High-Level Resistance to AminoglycosidesAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2004
- Acquisition of 16S rRNA methylase gene in Pseudomonas aeruginosaThe Lancet, 2003
- Plasmid-Mediated High-Level Resistance to Aminoglycosides in Enterobacteriaceae Due to 16S rRNA MethylationAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2003
- The Most Frequent Aminoglycoside Resistance Mechanisms--Changes with Time and Geographic Area: A Reflection of Aminoglycoside Usage Patterns?Clinical Infectious Diseases, 1997