Demonstration of plasmid-mediated drug resistance in Mycobacterium abscessus

Abstract

Plasmid-mediated kanamycin resistance was detected in a strain of Mycobacterium abscessus subsp bolletii responsible for a nationwide epidemic of surgical infections in Brazil. The plasmid did not influence susceptibility to tobramycin, streptomycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, clarithromycin, or ciprofloxacin. Plasmid-mediated drug resistance has not been described so far in mycobacteria. Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.